Russian and Polish football fans were involved in violent street fights ahead of last night's Euro 2012 meeting between the two national sides in Warsaw.
Police fired rubber bullets and used water cannons on the hooligans who fought running battles in the streets of the Polish capital.
Trouble flared during a march by 5,000 Russian fans observing a national day marking the end of the Soviet Union - ending in 183 arrests and injuries to more than 20 foreigners.
It immediately raised questions over UEFA's decision to go ahead with the staging of the game on such an emotive day.
Scroll down to see footage of the clashes...
A group of Polish football fans beat a Russian supporter during clashes between the two sets of rivals
In similar incidents nearby the stadium more sets of Polish fans target a Russian outside the stadium
Police were forced to stand guard during the match and even used a water cannon and rubber bullets to deter more violence
Polish plain clothes policemen detained a number of fans as battles broke out in the streets
Fans inside the ground unfurled a huge banner proclaiming 'This Is Russia' - another antagonistic reference to the former Soviet control.
Punches, bottles and missiles were thrown despite the attention of 6,000 officers. The Poles are said to have used a bridge to ambush their rivals.
'It was just a free for all and a disgrace,’ said one eyewitness. 'Innocent people were running and screaming just to get away from these men who behaved like animals.
Message: Russia's football fans display a giant banner during the Euro 2012 championships football match against Poland
Armed guard: Russian football fans had to be protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw
A Russian soccer fan fights with a Polish supporter, right, in Warsaw
A Polish soccer fan lies on the ground after clashing with Russian supporters
Police intervention as Polish and Russian fans clash during a march of Russian supporters to the National Stadium in Warsaw
Polish and Russian fans clash caught lashing out at one another ahead of tonight's match
An injured Russian football fan lies on the ground in need of medical with police at his side
In a separate incident, around 50 Polish fans wearing masks attacked Russian rivals in a Warsaw cafe.
Edyta Galazkowska, spokesman for Warsaw ambulance service, said 14 Russians, one German, one U.S. citizen and one Pakistani were among the injured.
The nationality of seven others was being established. None was in life-threatening condition.
Government spokesman Pawel Gras said about 150 Poles and a few dozen Russians have been detained among a total of more than 180 people.
A Warsaw police spokesman added: 'We are still monitoring the situation and trying to identify the supporters involved.
'The operation is not over from our side as we continue in our attempts to catch those who are causing trouble.'
Tensions were already running high with home fans having mocked the Russians over a Polish army victory in 1920.
The two countries are uneasy neighbours with Russia having occupied Poland for more than a century and dominating the country after the Second World War.
Football governing body UEFA has already begun disciplinary proceedings against Russian fans caught on film kicking and punching stewards near a walkway at the Wroclaw stadium after their side beat the Czech Republic 4-1.
Police and fans clash during a march of Russian supporters to the National Stadium in Warsaw
An injured Russian fan is seen as Polish and Russian fans clash ahead of the two nations' clash in the European Championships
More fans from both sides clash ahead of the match between Poland and Russia
It was considered a huge security challenge for police. Russia fans clashed with police on a bridge near the National Stadium and police were later seen making arrests.
In another incident, a group of clearly drunken Polish men began fighting among themselves, hitting and kicking each other.
Two were on the ground bleeding and police intervened, throwing two more to the ground.
The men were holding cans of beer and mumbling and one appeared to be unconscious. An AP reporter witnessed the incident and saw police detain three people.
One Russian who didn't have tickets to the game, but made the two-day car trip from Moscow simply to be in be the city, said it was wrong for the Russians to march in Warsaw given the countries' troubled history.
Riot policemen stand guard during the match between the two nations
Pitch battle: Polish armed officers take up their positions on the sidelines ahead of last night's match between Poland and Russia
Clampdown: Stewards carry away a Russian who ran on the pitch after the game
Heated: The players themselves even got involved in some tempestuous exchanges on the pitch
He and a friend had hoped to cross a bridge leading from the city center to the stadium to soak up the atmosphere in the area.
But they gave up that notion and were sitting outside, sipping on beers from a distance, and planning to watch the match on TV in an apartment with friends.
In recent days, Polish media have tried to stir up nationalistic sentiments over the match, suggesting the encounter would be more than a simple soccer game.
Newspapers on Monday were full of dramatic references to Poland's victorious 1920 battle against the Bolshevik Army, known as the Miracle on the Vistula.
The Super Express tabloid carried a front page mocked-up picture of Poland coach Franciszek Smuda charging on horseback, saber in hand, in a 1920 Polish army uniform under the headline "Faith, Hope, Smuda" - a play on an old army motto: "Faith, Hope, Motherland."
Fans cross the Poniatowski Bridge after the1-1 draw between Russia and Poland
A Polish fan stands up to a line of riot police as trouble in Warsaw continued into the evening
Officers prepare to fire rubber bullets as the trouble threatened to get out of hand following the game
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