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    Legia Warsaw: Two players arrested, club owner in scuffle with Dutch security after clash in Alkmaar

    Seb SternikSeb Sternik6 October 2023
    Josue of Legia Warszawa

    Josue of Legia Warszawa

    Two Legia Warsaw players were arrested following scandalous scenes in the Netherlands after Thursday’s Europa Conference League match.

    AZ Alkmaar picked up a 1-0 victory over Legia Warsaw in the group stage encounter, though it was the post-match events making all the headlines.

    Two Legia players, Josue and Radovan Pankov, were arrested and spent the night in an Amsterdam jail, while club owner, Dariusz Mioduski, and other members of staff were involved in a scuffle with security.

    The shocking scenes took place after the match as Legia’s players and staff attempted to exit the stadium.

    A fracas between Legia and the security personnel led to the arrest of Josue and Pankov. Video posted on social media by Polish journalist Piotr Kamieniecki shows Portuguese forward Josue being escorted in handcuffs by Dutch police.

    Portuguese and Serbian consulates have been contacted since the incident, though both players are unlikely to join their teammates on the flight home to Warsaw.

    Dutch website voetboalzone.nl have claimed that the reason for the arrest was a confrontation which ended with once of the security personnel receiving a concussion and a broken elbow, before being taken to the hospital.

    Sebastian Skibicki was at the match as a fan, and he told Polish news outlet TVP Sport: “These were beastly scenes.

    “AZ’s security provoked the whole situation. The hosts' representatives closed the door leading from the locker room to the bus. Some players were already in the vehicle, others were not, but someone preferred to separate everyone.

    “Paweł Wszołek, for example, was waiting at the door and had no way to get through. They did not want to allow several items to be taken out of the dressing room.

    “Over time, the gates opened again, and then... the security guard attacked someone from the staff. Confusion began, and after a few minutes a cordon reinforced by additional policemen appeared around the bus.”

    The fan, who was waiting near the bus with his son to try and get autographs, added: “Simply put, some players and club President Mioduski got hit in the face. The behaviour towards Legia was unacceptable.

    “It was plain discrimination. They were treated like animals! An ordinary person cannot understand such behaviour.”

    The Dutch media have also reported on alleged unruly behaviour by Legia’s supporters.

    According to De Telegraaf, the visiting fans broke one of the entry gates, with police unable to stop them. One of the officers is said to have lost consciousness as per the report.

    The press officer of the police force revealed some sections of Legia’s fans turned up without tickets.

    According to regulations, fans were expected to pick up tickets at a separate location before being taken to Alkmaar’s stadium by bus.

    Instead, it is claimed that many of the Polish supporters turned up at the AFAS stadium on their own accord.

    A statement from the Police said: "As part of the preparations for the match, arrangements were made between police departments from the Netherlands and Warsaw, as well as Legia, on how the fans of the Polish club were to get to the match.

    “The city was celebrating the 450th anniversary of the victory of Alkmaar, so the city did not could welcome fans. During the day, it became clear that Legia Warszawa had not fulfilled the arrangements.”

    Legia Warsaw released their own update, saying: "Due to the scandalous events after the match against AZ Alkmaar, a press conference of the president of Legia Warszawa, Dariusz Mioduski, will be held at the stadium at 2:00 p.m.

    "The media are kindly requested to be present at the conference and not to involve the team after returning to the Chopin airport."

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