Polish Football Association president Grzegorz Lato has apologised for the recent behaviour of Polish football fans, but insists the hooliganism problem will be eradicated before the country's co-hosting of the European Championships next summer.

Lato, who was the leading goalscorer at the 1974 World Cup, used a press conference in Warsaw to mark a year until the start of UEFA's flagship tournament to issue his apology to Lithuanian supporters after violent clashes marred a friendly between the two nations in March.

"I was shocked by the hooligans, I never experienced anything like that when I was playing," he said.

"I can only apologise to our friends in Lithuania for what happened."

But the 61-year-old believes that any such concerns and controversies will be stamped out well in advance of the first game on July 8 next year and said: "Look at the situation around the world. The Polish people will be sitting with Englishmen and with Spaniards and other nations.

"The safety and security of fan zones is the most important thing - a lot of media are writing good things about Poland. Euro 2012 will be safe."

Lato also pointed to the good behaviour shown by Polish supporters in recent tournaments and used the example of the poor behaviour of English football fans in recent years and the way that has now been quashed.

"England did everything to finish the problem and did it successfully," he said.

"We have very good fans; please remember what they were like in Germany (for the 2006 World Cup) and Austria and Switzerland (for Euro 2008). They were great, in spite of our results."