Notorious football fans known for 'street battles' and 'pyros' to descend on Edinburgh
Hibernian FC have defied all expectations by going toe-to-toe with some talented and storied European sides so far this campaign.
Having ran FC Midtjylland close in the Europa League play-offs and seeing off Partizan Belgrade in the previous round - with both ties being taken to extra time - the Cabbage and Ribs are just two legs away from group stage football in the Europa Conference League.
However the Leith side and their fans will have to take on a talented Legia Warszawa side who are no strangers to the European stage, as well as off-the-field controversy.
Legia's Ultras, known as the 'Zyleta' (The Razor), a common name given to the northern stand they often inhabit at the Stadion Wojska Polskiego, have sparked criticism from UEFA and European police forces, for their actions in and out of the stands.
During a previous visit to the UK in November 2023, Legia fans made international headlines as they clashed with police outside of Villa Park prior to the kick off of a Europa Conference League game.
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One fan was arrested and charged with possession of a knife while another was arrested for assault after kicking a police officer in the back.
West Midlands Police described the scenes before the game as 'some of the worst UK football trouble in decades.'
Footage shared by the force showed police battling with the hooligans as flares were launched and officers attacked during a 90-minute onslaught.
As a result, they were not allowed into the ground.
(Image: 2023 AMA Sports Photo Agency/Getty)
Back in 2024, on April 17, supporters of the 'Wojskowi', meaning 'militarians', took over Stamford Bridge, with their support almost to a man all stood with chests out.
Flares as well as other pyrotechnics and banned items led to condemnation from UEFA.
Last year the BBC reported that since 2023/24, the club has been fined in 17 out of 30 of their games, with a whopping £396,000 paid out by the Polish club due to their fans actions.
There has been no love lost between the 'Zyleta' and European football's governing body, as showcased back in 2017 when the Warsaw fans erected a massive Tifo showing a pig covered in euro symbols and the UEFA badge behind it against FC Sheriff.
(Image: The Mirror.)
Under the banner, words read: "And the 35,000€ fine goes to..."
This was to show their displeasure at being fined €35,000 by UEFA for previous banner displayed prior to the side's previous Champions League qualification clash against Astana in 2017.
Supporters unveiled a large '1944' banner of a soldier holding a gun to a child's head, with the artwork representing the year of the uprising, when the German army were driven out of Warsaw.
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Under the banner, words read: "During the Warsaw Uprising Germans killed 160,000 people. Thousands of them were children."
A heavy police presence is expected around Easter Road for the clash which will take place at 8pm on Thursday August 21. Hibs will then travel to Warsaw for the return leg on Thursday August 28.
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