Aston Villa emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League match held on Thursday. However, the game was marred by unfortunate incidents before kick-off, as fans of the Polish side clashed with the police, resulting in injuries to five officers. Due to safety concerns, Legia fans were not allowed into Villa Park on the advice of West Midlands Police. Consequently, UEFA has initiated an investigation into the matter.
Following the match, the police have brought charges against 46 men involved in the “serious disorder” caused by Legia Warsaw fans. Prior to the game, missiles were thrown at the police while the Legia fans were held in a coach park near Villa Park. Aston Villa has filed an official complaint with UEFA regarding the behavior of the Legia supporters.
Although the match started on time, no Legia fans were permitted to enter the stadium before kick-off. Legia accused Villa of violating their agreement regarding the away ticket allocation, while Villa cited safety concerns as the reason for their decision. A statement released by West Midlands Police disclosed that 46 men, ranging in age from 21 to 63, have been charged. Out of these, 43 individuals face charges of public order offenses, two have been charged with assaulting police officers, and one has been charged with possession of a knife.
A specially convened court at Birmingham magistrates will commence hearings for these cases this morning. The police are currently reviewing CCTV and body-worn video footage to identify additional suspects involved in the violent disorder. It is worth noting that during the disturbance, five officers sustained minor injuries. Of the five injured, two were from West Midlands Police, two from West Mercia Police, and one from Derbyshire Police. They are currently receiving the necessary support.
Detective Superintendent Jim Munro, who is overseeing the criminal investigation, expressed gratitude for the messages of support they have received from the club and fans who witnessed the policing operation firsthand. The investigation is ongoing, with officers reviewing footage and interviewing witnesses in the coming days.
During the match, Aston Villa released a statement shedding light on the requests made to Legia Warsaw to prevent ticketless fans from traveling. The requests went unanswered, and the club expressed disappointment at the lack of cooperation on an issue of serious safety concern. The statement highlighted that the allocation of away tickets for the fixture was reduced to 1,002 based on the advice of safety authorities, following a previous incident where Legia fans caused large-scale disorder during a match against AZ Alkmaar. The club also noted that Legia fans were subsequently banned by UEFA from traveling to Mostar for their game against HSK Zrinjski.
Villa pointed out that despite numerous appeals for cooperation from Legia Warsaw, especially in the last two days, no assistance was provided regarding the safety matter of away fans attending Villa Park. The club strongly condemned the behavior of the visiting supporters and commended the professionalism of West Midlands Police during challenging circumstances.
In response to the Villa statement, Legia Warsaw accused Aston Villa of restricting access for their fans, describing it as a “counterproductive and baseless” decision. Senior executives, including the club’s owner, made the choice to boycott the match in response to this action. Legia maintained that an allocation of 1,700 tickets for away supporters had been agreed upon on September 21. However, they claimed that on November 20, Aston Villa reduced that number by 50%, blatantly disregarding the prior agreements.
Beyond the violent clashes, Villa stewards also had to remove several individuals believed to be away supporters from the home stands. Additionally, videos posted on social media appeared to show objects being thrown into the stadium from outside. UEFA has strongly condemned the violence and will carefully assess all official reports from the game before determining the potential next steps to be taken.
The incident at Villa Park serves as a reminder that respect, fair play, and safety should always be upheld in football matches. It is crucial for clubs, authorities, and supporters to work together to create an atmosphere of enjoyment and unity within the beautiful game.
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