Arrests after flares set off at Wales v Poland football match

SOUTH WALES POLICE have confirmed they made several arrests during Poland’s Uefa Nations League win over Wales in Cardiff on Sunday night.

Thousands of Polish fans descended on the Welsh capital for Sunday’s game, creating a raucous atmosphere inside Cardiff City Stadium.

However, a section of visiting supporters have been roundly condemned for their use of pyrotechnics throughout the game.

Flares were lit during the Polish national anthem, and again when the visitors scored the only goal of the contest, with one fan appearing to fire a flare or firework from the stands up into the sky.

Police have confirmed that four Polish fans were arrested for being in possession of a pyrotechnic device, adding that a number of others were ejected during the match for smoking and alcohol-related offences.

Three more arrests were made during the course of the evening, although it’s not clear whether those in custody were Poland fans or not.

The events in the stands overshadowed matters on the pitch, with many Wales supporters calling on the FAW to take action, amid reported pockets of disorder allegedly involving Polish fans in the home sections of the stadium.

Taking to social media, one fan wrote: “Why were Polish fans allowed in the home ends? I was in the family stand and they were extremely aggressive. Also there could’ve been a repeat of Romania ‘93 with the fireworks!”

In a statement, a spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Seven people were arrested at last night’s Wales v Poland game at the Cardiff City Stadium.

“Four of the seven arrests, which were all in the away end, were for possession of a pyrotechnic device and these individuals remain in police custody. Three other males were arrested for being drunk and disorderly, a racially aggravated public order offence and invading the pitch.

The FAW was contacted for comment.