Hundreds flock to funeral of shot football fan
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
07.05.2015 13:08
Hundreds of football fans gathered on Thursday morning in Knurów, southern Poland, where the funeral was held of a 27-year-old man who died during a stadium riot after police opened fire with rubber bullets.
The funeral procession in Knurów,Thursday. Photo: PAP/Stanisław Rozpędzik
The family of the deceased had appealed for calm prior to the funeral, following a rash of rioting on Sunday and Monday, with locals up in arms as a result of the fan's death on Saturday.
Although extra detachments of police were present in Knurów on Thursday, the funeral ceremony passed peacefully.
Fans meet at Concordia's ground following the funeral. T Photo: PAP/Stanisław Rozpędzik
An autopsy has confirmed that the 27-year-old died of internal bleeding after being shot by a rubber bullet in the arm during the fourth division match between local side Concordia and Ruch Radzionków.
A horde of Concordia fans charged onto the pitch towards opposition fans, and police used rubber bullets in an apparent attempt to prevent a major clash between the two sides.
An investigation into the circumstances of the death has been launched by the District Prosecutor's Office in Gliwice.
Meanwhile, Krzysztof Smulski, head of the stadium security department for the Silesian Football Association, has claimed following a meeting with the chairman of Concordia that the attack by Concordia fans was planned prior to the match. (nh)
Source: IAR/TVP