46 individuals apprehended in connection with extensive unrest preceding Europa Conference League fixture
46 arrested, 4 officers injured in shocking pre-match violence as Aston Villa triumph over Legia Warsaw in Europa Conference League
46 individuals have been detained and four police officers were harmed in the lead-up to Aston Villa's 2-1 victory over Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League. West Midlands Police described the incidents as "disgusting and highly dangerous," citing a "large-scale disorder" involving Legia Warsaw fans outside Villa Park in Birmingham, UK. The clash is thought to have been triggered by the away club's failure to distribute tickets to supporters outside the stadium, as had been expected.
"The away allocation was reduced to 1,000 tickets based on the joint recommendation of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), in collaboration with Aston Villa and with the support of UEFA," the statement noted. Chief inspector Tim Robinson, the police commander for the match, stated that the "extreme violence" left no other option but to prohibit away fans from entering the stadium.
"The safety of everyone is our top priority, and we were left with no other choice," he stated. "There is simply no room for such unacceptable behavior, and it's something that we and the community should never have to witness."
Legia Warsaw fans clash with police outside Villa Park in Birmingham.
Carl Recine/Action Images/Reuters
A video making the rounds on social media depicts individuals hurling flares and various objects at police officers after reportedly being denied entry into the stadium.
In a statement released separately on Friday, the police reported that all 46 individuals in custody are supporters of the opposing team and are detained for various offenses, including engaging in violent disturbances, assaulting police officers, and possessing weapons.
Aston Villa emphasized that no home fans were arrested and there were no problems from their supporters during the game. Additionally, the club lodged a formal complaint with UEFA about the behavior of Legia Warsaw and their supporters before the match.
Chris Heck, the president of business operations at Aston Villa, expressed his deep disappointment at the lack of cooperation and evasiveness from Legia Warsaw officials before the match. He emphasized that this behavior not only put West Midlands Police officers and Aston Villa fans in danger, but also condemned the disorderly scenes from the Legia fans, stating that they have no place in modern football or civilised society.
Police officers battle with flares let off by Legia fans ahead of the game at Villa Park.
Before the game, Legia Warsaw released a statement alleging that Aston Villa had refused to provide tickets for away supporters in compliance with UEFA regulations for their Europa Conference League match.
Therefore, due to the actions taken by Aston Villa, Legia Warsaw must announce that its official delegation, board of directors, and the club's owner and president, Dariusz Mioduski, will unfortunately not be present. Aston Villa stated on Thursday that Legia fans "participated in premeditated and organized violent incidents against West Midlands Police officers" an hour before the game.
Villa mentioned that the initial reduced number of tickets for Legia fans was a result of past "large-scale disorder" before their game against AZ Alkmaar. Despite numerous requests for cooperation, Legia Warsaw did not provide any assistance in ensuring the safety of their supporters attending Villa Park.
Thursday's match was played in front of an empty away end in Villa Park.
James Baylis/AMA/Getty Images
CNN has reached out to both clubs for further comment.
UEFA strongly denounced the violence surrounding the Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw match in a statement to CNN. They are currently collecting official reports before determining potential next steps. Villa's victory secured their spot in the Europa Conference League knockout stages, while Legia will have a chance to qualify during their last group-stage game against AZ Alkmaar on December 14.
CNNs Aleks Klosok contributed to reporting.
