FOUR MEN aged between 22 and 30 are to appear before a Belfast court later this morning in connection with the violence that broke out before the Northern Ireland versus Poland World Cup qualifier match on Saturday.
They face charges of disorderly behaviour and one of the four is also accused of holding fireworks without a licence. The PSNI is also investigating racially-motivated attacks at 10 addresses in various parts of Belfast.
Trouble broke out before, during and after the international match at Windsor Park in south Belfast. The PSNI believes a group of ticket-less Poland supporters arrived in Belfast intent on causing trouble.
The unrest began in Bedford Street in the city centre when a fight started in Wetherspoon’s pub. It was later closed because of damage. There was also violence on Tate’s Avenue close to the ground.
Further incidents took place outside Windsor Park afterwards which was contained by PSNI officers in full riot gear. Supt Chris Noble said: “My officers came under attack from bottles, bricks, fireworks and other missiles. We have reports of 11 officers injured. A number of both Northern Ireland and Polish supporters also received a number of injuries, some of which required hospital treatment.” He said nine people were arrested for a range of offences.
“A number of homes were attacked and these are being treated as racially motivated incidents,” he added.
“We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a very clear intent to cause trouble and disruption to genuine supporters and local residents. We believe these troublemakers are not local; they have travelled to Northern Ireland with the express purpose of causing trouble.”