Over 30 arrests made after major disorder at Villa Park
Police officers were injured outside the Aston Villa match against Legia Warsaw.
Last updated 1st Dec 2023
39 people have been arrested after a major disorder broke out outside Villa Park last night (30 Nov).
Four officers were injured ahead of the Europa Conference League fixture between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw when flares and objects were thrown in what police have described as a "highly dangerous scene".
Paramedics treated 14 people for injuries, 10 of whom were treated for minor injuries, such as cuts and bruising. One of the police officers was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Aston Villa said the club had raised concerns ahead of the match about some away fans trying to attend the match without tickets.
In a statement on the website, West Midlands Police said: "We had a significant policing presence in place because of safety concerns. This stemmed from visiting fans having been involved in previous match day disorder."
"During the disorder four officers were injured - with one taken to hospital - along with two police horses and two police dogs as missiles including flares were thrown towards them. Thankfully, their injuries are not believed to be serious."
The fighting is believed to have started because tickets were not distributed by the away club to supporters outside the ground.
The away allocation had been reduced to 1,000 tickets on the joint recommendation of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which is made up of emergency services, local authorities, and transport bosses.
This led to away fans not being allowed into the stadium due to safety concerns.
Chief Inspector Tim Robinson, match commander, said: "This should have been a great evening of football which was enjoyed by fans from both clubs.
"Unfortunately, there were appalling scenes which saw away fans dangerously throw flares and other missiles at our officers.
"We were there to help keep people safe, yet officers own safety was put at risk because of the deplorable actions of others.
"Due to the extreme violence, there was no other choice but to prevent away fans entering the stadium. The safety of everyone is our priority, and clearly we had no other option.
"There can never be a place for such appalling behaviour, and this is something ourselves and the wider community should never have to experience."