Aston Villa emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, but the match was overshadowed by clashes between the Polish team’s fans and the police. Prior to the start of the game, supporters of Legia threw objects at law enforcement officers, resulting in injuries to four officers. As a consequence, the fans were not allowed into Villa Park, following the guidance of the West Midlands Police.
The police reported a total of 39 arrests in connection with the “disgraceful” events that unfolded on Thursday night. Missiles were hurled at the police as Legia fans were detained in a coach park near Villa Park ahead of their team’s match against Aston Villa.
Despite the disturbances, the match proceeded as planned. Nevertheless, Legia fans were prohibited from entering the stadium prior to kick-off. Legia accused Villa of breaching their agreement on the allocation of away tickets, while Villa cited safety concerns as the basis for their decision.
Following the conclusion of the match, the West Midlands Police issued a statement outlining the disorder that transpired. The police confirmed that four officers, as well as two police horses and two police dogs, sustained injuries due to flares and other objects being thrown at them. A total of 39 arrests were made on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting a police officer.
Chief Inspector Tim Robinson, the match commander, condemned the actions of the visiting fans, asserting that their behaviour jeopardized the safety of everyone. He stressed that, due to the extreme violence displayed, away fans were not permitted entry into the stadium, as the safety of all individuals involved was the police’s foremost concern.
Aston Villa also released a statement, affirming that no away fans were allowed access to Villa Park, in accordance with the advice of the West Midlands Police. The decision to reduce the ticket allocation for Legia fans was made by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), in collaboration with Aston Villa and UEFA, based on the previous unrest caused by Legia fans in a previous match.
Furthermore, footage on social media purportedly showed objects being thrown into the stadium from outside, and stewards ejected several individuals believed to be away supporters from the home stands during the match.
In response, Legia Warsaw expressed their disappointment over the ticket allocation and accused Aston Villa of disregarding previous agreements. The Polish side insisted that they had made numerous appeals to address the issue of ticketless away supporters attempting to attend the match at Villa Park.
While it is evident that there were disputes and tensions between the two football clubs and their supporters, the safety and security of all individuals involved should always take precedence. This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining order and upholding safety measures during sporting events to ensure the well-being of fans and law enforcement officers alike.