Wisla Krakow Fans End Three-Year Away Ban With Lech Poznan Trip
Over 1,000 Wisla Krakow fans will travel to Lech Poznan, ending a three-year unofficial away ban sparked by fan violence and a historic boycott across Polish football.
More than 1,000 Wisla Krakow fans are set to travel to face Lech Poznan on Saturday, ending an unprecedented three-year away ban that saw clubs across Poland refuse to host them. The unofficial boycott began following a violent clash at a fan tournament in August 2023, during which a 40-year-old man was killed.
While the Polish Football Association did not impose an official blanket ban, host clubs frequently blocked Wisla supporters from entering away sections under the pretext of security concerns and stadium renovations. Data from the 2024/25 season shows that Wisla fans were barred from organized travel in 15 out of 18 away matches, prompting complaints to the Polish Ombudsman.
The standoff peaked on March 7 when Wisla Krakow refused to show up for an away match against Slask Wroclaw after being locked out of the stadium. Wisla received a 3-0 technical defeat, while Slask was fined 1 million zlotys. However, Lech Poznan President Piotr Rutkowski decided to break the trend, allowing Wisla fans into the away section with the blessing of Wisla President Jaroslaw Krolewski.
"This is how a professional club should act," Krolewski stated. "We can compete and have a rivalry, but there are certain principles that must be respected, and fans must be allowed to support their team away from home." Over 1,000 fans have organized a special train trip from Krakow for the fixture.
