Police officers were injured after violence from Legia Warsaw fans erupted before their game at Aston Villa. Missiles were thrown at police as the visiting fans were held in the coach park near Villa Park, before they were due to enter the stadium for the Europa Conference League game on Thursday.
Three officers were injured but the game – which Villa won 2-1 against the Polish side – started on time, although no Legia fans were allowed into the ground before kick-off. Villa strongly condemned the behaviour of the away fans and thanked West Midlands Police for their actions.
A police statement on X, formerly Twitter, said: “We’re currently unable to allow away fans into Villa Park following disorder outside the stadium which has seen missiles thrown at officers.
“Three officers have already been injured and a significant policing operation continues. Please avoid Witton Lane where possible.”
The force said after the game that 39 people were arrested after the “disgusting and highly dangerous scenes”, with one of the injured police officers taken to hospital. Two police horses and two police dogs were also hurt.
About 2,000 away fans had gathered, despite Legia having a restricted allocation of 1,000 following supporters’ behaviour at a previous group game in the Netherlands against Alkmaar, sparking a row between Villa and Legia with both issuing statements criticising each other.
“In spite of numerous requests for cooperation from Legia Warsaw concerning their travelling supporters, especially in the last two days, no assistance on the serious safety matter of away fans attending Villa Park was forthcoming from the visiting club,” said Villa in statement after the match. “The club has repeatedly, including this morning, raised concerns in conjunction with Uefa and all the relevant authorities to Legia that ticketless away supporters were attempting to attend Villa Park.”
Villa said Legia fans “engaged in planned and systematic violent acts against West Midlands Police officers” about an hour before kick-off.
The club added: “Aston Villa strongly condemns the behaviour of those visiting supporters and would like to thank West Midlands Police for their professionalism in very difficult circumstances.”
The match was won by Villa, with Àlex Moreno firing them into the knockout stages after a 2-1 win. The defender’s goal, on his first appearance of the season following a hamstring injury, sent Unai Emery’s side top of Group E. The forward Moussa Diaby opened the scoring before Ernest Muci seized on Boubacar Kamara’s defensive gaffe to level.
But Moreno sidefooted the winner from six yards to ensure Villa need only a point at Zrinjski Mostar in a fortnight to be confirmed as group winners, who go straight through to the last 16 and avoid an extra play-off round.
