Intro:

Russian and Polish hooligans, some masked, clashed on the sidelines of a march in Warsaw by Russian fans.

Script:

Just hours before Russia played Poland in the European Championship in Warsaw, hooligans clashed on the streets.

It is believed skirmishes flared when around 5000 Russian fans marched through Warsaw to celebrate their National Day, which marks the declaration of Russia's independence in 1990.

Around 6,000 police officers could not prevent several people being injured, some seriously.

Relations between the two nations are strained following a long history of conflict.

Russia occupied Poland for more than a century and many Poles felt the march was provocative.

UEFA has started disciplinary proceedings against Russia following a series of incidents involving their fans at Euro 2012.