Poland apologises for crowd trouble in Lithuania

VILNIUS, July 10 (Reuters) Poland has apologised to Lithuania after Legia Warsaw fans went on the rampage during an Intertoto Cup match against Vetra Vilnius, the prime minister's office said today.

''The Polish prime minister (Jaroslaw Kaczynski) apologised to (Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas) Kirkilas for the inappropriate behaviour of Polish football fans during the match in Vilnius on Sunday,'' Kirkilas's office said.

Lithuanian police had to use tear gas and water cannons to try to disperse the Polish hooligans in a fight that lasted for about 30 minutes during the second round, first leg match.

The game, the first leg of a second round tie, was abandoned at halftime with Vetra leading 2-0.

The repair bill for the stadium has been estimated at about 28,670 dollar after advertising panels, seats, gates, portable toilets and TV cables were vandalised.

Legia president Leszek Miklas said yesterday the club would impose severe measures against the hooligans, who were among 3,000 Polish fans who travelled to the match.

The incident occurred just 10 weeks after Poland were awarded the right by UEFA to co-host the 2012 European championship with Ukraine and could have wider implications.

UEFA, European football's governing body, will investigate the incident which is without parallel in the Intertoto Cup, a low key competition used as a qualifier for the opening rounds of the UEFA Cup.

Michal Listkiewicz, chairman of Polish Football Association, said UEFA would probably revise the result as a 3-0 victory for Vetra.

The second leg, if Legia are not thrown out, is scheduled for Saturday with the winners going on to meet Blackburn Rovers.

REUTERS TB PM2012