Wisła triumph in Kraków's 'Holy War'

      There are many brutal and violent rivalries throughout football but not many can compete with the pure anger and hatred that is displayed between Wisła Kraków and their local rivals Cracovia. Dating back more than 100 years this rivalry spans the length of Poland's professional footballing history as they were the first two clubs established in Poland in 1906. Known as the 'Holy War', the name was first use to describe the rivalry between Kraków's two Jewsish teams, Makkabi and Jutrzenka, however after a defender from the latter club join Cracovia he supposedly shouted to his team mates "Come on guys, lets win this Holy war!" before a derby game against Wisła and the 'Holy War' name was born and is now incorperated into many of both team's songs.

     Since the first official game in 1908 the Holy War was played annually up until 1990 when, after a derby game, supporters clashed with police officers (not an uncommon feat) however this time the police responded with what was to be judged as brutal force which caused both Wisła and Cracovia fanatics to fight side by side against the police and push them back into a USSR consulate building where they took shelter. After this the annual Holy War anniversary game was banned. It wasn't until 20 years later when Cracovia returned to the Poland's top division that the Holy War resumed.

      On the day of the Holy War Kraków becomes a completely different place. The streets become a battle ground between the opposing sides, the only 2 firms in Poland who did not agree to stop using weapons. The hooliganism completely consumes the city to the point where everybody not involved with the football stays inside in fear of their lives. The latest of these Holy war derby days was on the 5th November at Cracovia's Marszałek Piłsudski Stadium. Wisła snatched the game with a late goal from on loan Moroccan attacking midfielder Nourdin Boukhari in the dying minutes of extra time. The result was no surprise as Wisła are by far the more successful of the two teams however every Cracovia fan will be waiting eagerly for the next time the teams meet in May of next year.