The Polish top-flight side defeated Omonia 3-0 in the Cypriot capital on Thursday, marking their fourth consecutive win in the European competition.
However, the match was marred by controversy when Omonia fans displayed a large banner praising the Red Army, alongside smaller banners depicting Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and the communist hammer and sickle symbol, according to a report by Polish state news agency PAP.
Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
'This is an obvious act of provocation': Polish sports minister
Polish Sports Minister Sławomir Nitras criticised the display, saying in a media interview on Friday: "Politics should not be present at sports venues at all."
Referring to the banner's claim that the Red Army "liberated" Warsaw on January 17, 1945, Nitras said: "This is offensive to Polish society as a whole, to all residents of the Polish capital: Warsaw was not liberated, but enslaved, by the Red Army."
He called the banner an "obvious act of provocation by Cypriot or Russian fans" and urged Poland's ambassador to Cyprus to file an official protest.
Sławomir Nitras. Photo: Piotr Podlewski/Polish Radio
Nitras also demanded "decisive action" from UEFA, football's European governing body, and an apology from the Cypriot club's authorities, the PAP news agency reported.
'It is unacceptable to use this kind of display': Warsaw mayor
Warsaw Mayor and presidential contender Rafał Trzaskowski called the banner "unacceptable" and announced plans to send a formal letter to the Cypriot club, demanding an apology.
"It is unacceptable to use this kind of display," Trzaskowski told the media, adding "the city authorities should also react."
Rafał Trzaskowski. Photo: Polish Radio
Legia Warsaw's Paweł Wszołek, Mateusz Szczepaniak, Bartosz Kapustka and Rafał Augustyniak celebrate beating Omonia in Nicosia on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
'An aggressor is not a liberator'
Trzaskowski said in a social media post that the "scandalous banner" misrepresented "an aggressor" as "a liberator."
"At a time when Ukrainian cities are being bombed daily on Putin's orders and civilians are being murdered, Cypriot fans at the Omonia vs. Legia Warsaw match displayed a provocative and outrageous slogan about the supposed 'liberation' of Warsaw by the Soviets in 1945," Trzaskowski wrote in his post.
"This is unacceptable," he continued. "I hope they get a solid lesson on the pitch. So far, it seems we're on the right track."
He added: "Someone must apologise for this scandalous banner. An aggressor is not a liberator. Period."
Polish football chief urges 'severe penalties'
Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), also condemned the display, describing it as "scandalous behaviour."
Cezary Kulesza. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
"I urge our partners at UEFA to impose severe penalties on those responsible for this provocation against our country," he said on social media.
"I strongly oppose any attempts to distort history and insult the Polish people," he added.
Polish history institute offers to educate fans on 'true nature' of Red Army
Poland's state-run Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) offered Omonia supporters an education on "the true nature" of the Red Army.
"In connection with the stadium setting prepared by Omonia Nicosia supporters for the match against Legia Warsaw on 28 November 2024, we noted with regret that Cypriot fans lack knowledge about the true nature of the Red Army's activities in Polish lands," the institute said in a statement on Friday.
It added that it "has been educating for years about the true nature of the presence of the Red Army and the Soviet Army on Polish soil" from 1944 to 1990.
"The enormity of pain suffered from the Soviet occupier has been permanently imprinted in our national consciousness," the statement said.
"Therefore, we do not tolerate symbols of Soviet enslavement in public space and dismantle propaganda objects that dishonor the memory of the victims of Soviet repression," the IPN added.
It noted that "the propagation of communist symbols is prohibited by law in Poland."
Legia Warsaw urge 'decisive response'
Legia Warsaw issued a statement via social media on Friday, saying that "the scandalous display by Omonia Nicosia fans" was "intended to distort the truth."
The Polish club added: "On behalf of our community and those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Warsaw and Poland, we immediately contacted UEFA after the match to demand a decisive response."
"In both history and sport, there is no room for imprecision': Polish embassy
The Polish embassy to Cyprus said on X: "We can see that Omonia fans are interested in Polish history, but remember: the Red Army removed the German occupation troops from Poland in 1945 and then stayed there for nearly 50 years."
It added: "In both history and sport, there is no room for imprecision."
Legia Warsaw have earned 12 points from four group-stage matches in this season's UEFA Conference League, without conceding a single goal.
They currently sit second in their group, trailing Chelsea on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Polish champions Jagiellonia Białystok also remain in contention, holding third place with three wins and a draw, just two points behind Chelsea and Legia.
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Source: IAR, PAP, polskieradio24.pl