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| June 17, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1427 |
Polish soccer chief hits out at German media
BARSINGHAUSEN, June 16: The president of Poland's soccer federation praised the team's fans for their ‘fantastic’ support and behaviour at the World Cup, but took a swipe at the German media.
Poland were eliminated after defeats to Ecuador and Germany, but that hasn’t stopped the fans from enjoying themselves.
“Our fans were our strongest point at this tournament,” Michal Listkiewicz said on Friday at the team's base in central Germany. “Those who were at the stadium were fantastic.”
“Polish fans that were in the stands in Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund were great. They were better than German fans, than Italian fans. They were happy, they sang, they danced.”
He acknowledged there were minor problems with a handful of supporters in Dortmund on Wednesday, but said the problem was mainly with Germany fans.
Police arrested 429 fans in Dortmund, where Poland lost to Germany 1-0 on an injury-time goal by Oliver Neuville. Almost 300 of those arrested were Germany fans.
He also criticised the German media for their treatment of Poland’s supporters.
''The German press’s behaviour toward Polish fans was distasteful. What was published the day before the Poland-Germany match in one of the German tabloids was brutish. It showed a lack of culture, and doesn't accurately represent the Polish nation, which is proud and decent nation,” he said.
Ecuador's 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Thursday confirmed the Poles’ exit before they have even scored a goal. Poland lost 2-0 to Ecuador in their opener, and play Costa Rica on Tuesday in their last game.
“I’m disappointed above all with the lack of results,” Listkiewicz said. “Our soccer is what it is – it’s average and the team is average.”—AP
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