Polish – Hungarian friendship has been cultivated on the stands in a special way for many years. At every opportunity the fans greet each other, create the right atmosphere at matches celebrating both nations and fly banners with patriotic slogans. And whenever there is a derby, the final score is never the most important thing.
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9 November 2014, to celebrate the coming Polish Independence Day, supporters of the Hungarian Diósgyőr VTK in a game against Nyíregyháza created a patriotic setting in the colours of Poland. Strips of fabric were unfurled which created a white and red flag and a banner which read "11.11 Long live free Poland" was hung underneath. A small flag with the Fighting Poland symbol flew alongside it. During the game there was no shortage of "Poland! Poland!" chants.
On 25 April 2015, before the Poland – Hungary ice hockey game, the Magyars addressed the Polish supporters: "We would like to greet and salute all sports fanatics in Poland. As usual we are going to Poland as if it was our second homeland, and to Kraków – the city of kings and of Pope John Paul II – which, on account of our shared history, is close to our hearts. (...) Saturday's Poland – Hungary game is of great significance and will be decisive in a number of matters: which of our countries will qualify to the world's elite. (...) But at the same time, the fact that a tragedy for one will always be heartfelt by the other and success will also be celebrated by the other is the most important element of Polish – Hungarian friendship. And that will not change after Saturday: ultimately we want our team to win, but if Poland comes out victorious, we will not harbour jealousy. (...) We would like to take the opportunity presented by Saturday's match to consolidate the friendship of Polish and Hungarian supporters and to express our desire to establish and cultivate new contacts. The Polish – Hungarian friendship is not an empty cliché, lauded in pubs or at parties, but something much more genuine, alive and well. The brother-like relations mean Hungarians will be better Hungarians and Poles will be better Poles. Let's cultivate this tradition, pass it down to our children and make sure no one, ever disrupts it. Let's discard all of our differences and make sure they never drive a wedge between us." Nearly four thousand fans from Hungary came to Kraków for the game. They were greeted enthusiastically. The relations between the two nations were consolidated even further. A flag was flying on the stands in Polish and Hungarian colours with the "Barátság és tisztelet – Brotherhood and respect" slogan. The away team won the match 2:1, and their qualification was celebrated by supporters of both teams in concert.
On 12 March 2016, during the GKS Bełchatów – Chrobry Głogów game, supporters of the home team celebrated the coming anniversary of the outbreak of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution. This assumed the form of a flag with the Polish and Hungarian coats of arms, an image of Józef Bem and the "Two nations – one fight" slogan in Polish and Hungarian. Fans also catered for an educational aspect and handed out 1000 leaflets which outlined what the Hungarian Revolution was and the role played therein by the Polish Legions led by their commander Józef Bem.
In May 2016, supporters of friendly handball clubs Vive Kielce and MVM Veszprem celebrated together in Cologne the qualification of their teams to the EHF Champions League. Polish and Hungarian chants could be heard everywhere. There was no shortage of gestures of friendship between Hungarian and Polish fans who exchanged scarves and club memorabilia. We use what are probably the most difficult languages in the world, however the language of sport and emotions is universal – said a Polish fan. On my way to Cologne I had a dream that the Polish and Hungarian teams will meet in the finals – added a Hungarian supporter. After these events, great solidarity and friendship grew between fans of both teams. Supporters from Kielce travel to Hungary in large groups and Magyars do likewise. This led to numerous friendships being established on a personal level. In February 2017, fans from Kielce provided a wonderful setting for the game against the team from Szeged. Flags of both countries were made out of colour tinsels with two interlocked hands in the middle. And the final touch was provided by a banner displaying a slogan which read: "There is no power which can divide us".
In 3 September 2016 Wisłoki Dębica supporters during a game against Stal Mielec flew a banner which read "Pole and Hungarian brothers be" with flares and smoke flares in the colours of both nations. Friendly supporters from the Hungarian Szeged came to Podkarpacie just for that occasion.
On 12 September 2017, within the scope of UEFA Futsal Championship qualifiers, Hungary played a home game against the "white and reds". The game took place in Miskolc. A large group of home supporters was cheering for their team and chanting greetings to the Poles.
In autumn of 2017, Zagłębie Lublin female handball players, within the scope of EHF Cup qualifiers played against the Hungarian Deberecen. Despite the fact that the Polish team suffered a loss, the game became ingrained in everyone's memories due to the atmosphere created by fans from the two countries. It was already clear during the first game in Lower Silesia that the games will be played in a brotherly mood. The fans greeted each other and cheered for both teams. The return game in Debrecen took place on 23 October. The home supporters' stands were full and "Poland, Poland!" chants could be heard from them many times. On the other hand fans from Lublin unfurled a banner which read "Honour and glory to the heroes of 1956" – to commemorate the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
In July 2019, within the scope of UEFA Europa League qualifiers, Cracovia played a two-legged tie against FC DAC 1904 from Dunajská Streda, which usually plays in the Slovak league. The town with its 22 thousand residents (Hung. Dunaszerdahely) lies within historic Hungarian border regions. Today 80% of its population is Hungarian. The third largest concentration of Magyars in Slovakia. The first leg was played on 11 July in Dunajská Streda. When players were walking onto the pitch, the Hungarians raised white and red slips of cardboard to make up a Polish flag. And a flag with an escutcheon was unfurled, displaying the P:olish and Hungarian coats of arms. At the same time supporters from Kraków made a red, white and green flag out of colour slips of cardboard. A Poland – Hungary flag was also flown on the stands. The return leg proceeded in an equally friendly atmosphere. Hungarians walking around Kraków were greeted warmly, photographs were taken together and bonds were forged and strengthened in the run-up to the game. Marching to the stadium, the away team's supporters were chanting "Poland! Poland!"..
Hungarians joining the annual Polish Patriotic Supporters' Pilgrimage is now a tradition. Újpest Budapest, Ferencváros, Honvéd supporters as well as those of smaller clubs such as Diósgyőr-Vasgyári come to Jasna Góra. 2016 marked the first visit. And that is why, during the liturgy in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image, the first reading took place in Hungarian, and in the Prayer of the Faithful there was a call for God's blessing for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and all Hungarians who have been friends with Poles for a thousand years.
Every year Magyars take part in the Polish Independence Day March on 11 November across the streets of Warsaw. On the other hand, fans from the banks of the Vistula River return the favour on March 15 during the Hungarian National Day and October 23 on the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.
For seven years now, every year on March 15, the supporters of the Unia Tarnów organize a March of Polish-Hungarian Friendship in their town. It is also attended by fans from Gorlice, Kraków, Mielec, Dębica and the Hungarian Győr. The march starts from Sándor Petőfi Square – the hero of the 1848 uprising and ends at the statue of Józef Bem. Several hundred people take part in the celebrations every year.
At every Hungarian national football team game, Poles are greeted and white and red flags are flown. The friendship between football fans has been going on for a number of years now. At Euro 2016 supporters of both teams celebrated together in towns and stadiums. In 2016, during an away game in Romania, Poles chanted a slogan popular among Hungarian fans: "Ria Hungaria" This enraged the home supporters, and security had to intervene in order to stop riots. And Magyars, returning the favour, chant "Poland! Poland!" whenever their team plays. This happened during Hungary's games against Croatia, Greece, Andorra and Iceland. And the fans do not stop short at verbal support. Nearly 250 fans from Poland went to the Romania – Hungary game to support the away team.
Michał Kawęcki, urodzony w 1987 roku. Politolog, założyciel i prezes Stowarzyszenia Sympatyków I. Lwowskiego Klubu Sportowego Czarni Lwów. Autor monografii najstarszego polskiego klubu piłkarskiego