Fans from Wrocław and Leszno live together like cat and dog for a reason. Both cities are less than a hundred kilometers apart and despite the fact that they are located in different provinces, the clashes between Fogo Unii and Betard Sparta are called speedway classics. The statistics say a lot. These two clubs have won as many as 23 titles of the national team champion in total, and probably soon this number will be out of date.
Direct matches of the above-mentioned teams are not only great sports spectacles, but also numerous scandals. The last of them happened in this year’s main phase of PGE Ekstraliga and almost ended with a huge drama for the center from the capital of Lower Silesia. After losing the match at the rival’s premises, the Wrocław speedway riders decided to traditionally thank the fans for their support and for this purpose they went to the guest sector to give them high fives and pose for commemorative photos.
He knocked the fan to the ground. The next day, he wasn’t laughing anymore
Quite unexpectedly, a fan of the hosts appeared next to the players, who took advantage of the security’s loose approach and started waving a Fogo Unii scarf. This did not escape Tai Woffinden’s attention. The Briton, who occasionally trains MMA, decided to put his skills into practice and knocked the culprit to the ground. The three-time world champion initially laughed at the whole situation, but his face must have thinned the day after the match.
It turned out that the fan was quite badly hurt, and the League’s Adjudicating Committee took care of the case, which could even suspend the speedway rider for the next few matches. – Tai Woffinden made a civic shot – defended Betard Sparta in an official statement. Its representative did not escape responsibility and paid as much as forty thousand zlotys for a reckless act.
The 33-year-old and the team returned to Leszno faster than expected, because both teams met in the quarterfinals of PGE Ekstraliga last week. Of course, the local sympathizers made his life difficult from the moment of the presentation, greeting him with boos and whistles. The Briton, however, probably only motivated him to an excellent drive, because he scored one of the best performances of the season and with the money earned on the track he quickly paid off the fine for earlier thoughtless behavior.
He went to cheer. He ended up with a concussion
Ryszard Czarnecki has definitely worse memories of Leszno. In 2001, the politician who was then the president of the Wrocław club was so happy with the win of his beloved team that several bottles flew in his direction. To make matters worse, the current MEP received a blow to the head from one of the frustrated people. After being hospitalized, he was diagnosed with a concussion.
– I am ready to die for Wrocław – he said later and did not intend to forgive the aggressor. The case went to court, and only eighteen-year-old Mariusz P. openly admitted that he did not know that he was hitting an MP. – The fan sentenced to two years of suspension had the nickname “Wodnik”, and the Wroclaw fan who was treated in this way was named Ryszard Czarnecki. The coincidence of the names is not accidental – Rufin Sokołowski, the former president of the Union, recently announced in Interia.
They released a frightened animal onto the track. The club had to account for them
In the capital of Lower Silesia, an innocent animal suffered in the 2009 season. WTS supporters even before the first race came up with a “brilliant” idea of disguising a completely scared pig in the colors of the Union and released it on the track. It didn’t end there, because an offensive banner was also hung up towards the visiting fans. Leszczynians did not remain indebted and for several minutes both sides attacked each other with vulgar chants.
The animal is under the care of one of our employees, the decision regarding its further fate has not yet been made. The Management Board of the Club is convinced that the irresponsible incident of a group of fans will not affect the good relations between the Unia Leszno Sportowa Spółka Akcyjna Club and WTS SA
~ later explained in the pages of WP Sportowefacty Krzysztof Matyśkiewicz, then director of the Wrocław center
Normality has come. May it be forever
Photos from June 2009 are circulating on the Internet to this day, which the inhabitants of Wrocław are probably not proud of. Fortunately, the situation has stabilized in recent years. Fans are currently focused more on cheering their favorites than on starting brawls and provoking the other side.
A few days ago in the stands in Leszno there was a really delicious atmosphere worthy of the best league in the world. After the first meeting, Betard Sparta is closer to advancing to the semi-finals, as it is enough to keep the advance at home in the rematch. Fogo Unia isn’t going to give up either, as he could end up in the top four as a lucky loser. Small points will be crucial in this matter.
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