A POLICE officer was set on FIRE in violent clashes with Polish football yobs.
Legia Warsaw fans went on the rampage just minutes before Aston Villa’s 2-1 Europa Conference League win on Thursday night.
Police in riot gear met fans and kettled them into a car park near the stadium but could not prevent trouble breaking out before kick-off.
Four cops were injured – as well as two police horses and two dogs – as Legia fans hurled missiles at an army of police.
One officer, who was hit by a flare, was taken to hospital after suffering burns.
Police later confirmed than none of the injuries were serious.
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Legia followers were furious after they had their ticket allocation cut from 1,700 to 1,002 after violent clashes between Warsaw fans and Dutch police in Alkmaar.
Almost 1,000 ticketless Polish fans tried to gatecrash the turnstiles as NO away supporters were allowed in.
West Midlands Police mounted a huge security operation but violent scenes broke out when police began to move those Legia fans who did have tickets from their compound to march them to the stadium.
As a result, the match kicked off with the entire away section empty.
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Birmingham Police issued a statement on X to confirm: “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 police operation continues. Please avoid Witton Lane where possible.”
A later statement from West Midlands police confirmed 39 people had been arrested on suspicion of offences including violent disorder and assaulting a police officer.
They slammed the “disgusting and highly dangerous scenes”.
A statement from Villa added: “Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that no away fans were allowed into Villa Park for this evening’s UEFA Europa Conference League fixture with Legia Warsaw on the advice of West Midlands Police following large-scale disorder outside the stadium caused by visiting supporters.”
It continued: “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.
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“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.
“Approximately an hour before kick-off, Legia fans engaged in planned and systematic violent acts against West Midlands Police officers and a decision was then made by West Midlands Police to exclude all Legia supporters.
“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.”
A statement released by Legia incredibly blamed Villa for “exacerbating the situation”.
They wrote: “Instead of diffusing potential pre-match tensions, restrictive measures of Aston Villa FC as the host club needlessly exacerbate the atmosphere. In our view, such measures are counterproductive and unfounded.”
Legia boss Kosta Runjaic added: “For sure we have great fans. They support us at home and away.
“They are travelling with us and we can always rely on them and count on them.
“So far, since I’ve been at Legia I’ve had a massively nice and good experience with our fans.
“It would have been good for sure. (to have fans present)
“But as I said, I don’t know the content of all the happenings – I dont know the details.
“So that’s why it is better I do not speak about it.
“Unfortunately our fans weren’t in the stadium – and the atmosphere in general would have been much better if they were.
Plans had already been put in place with both teams using different stadium entrances to the ones normally used to protect the safety of the players.
And no away fans at all were able to enter the stadium as police continued to battle to restore control of the rioting Polish supporters.
Footage on social media appeared to show missiles being lobbed at Villa fans from outside the stadium.
While some Polish fans were ejected from the home end by stewards.
On the field, it did not take long for Villa to go in front as Moussa Diaby tucked home the opener after just four minutes.
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Ernest Muci levelled things up for the visitor’s midway through the first half, before Alex Moreno put Villa 2-1 in front 13 minutes into the second period.
And that’s how it stayed as Unai Emery’s men moved three points clear at the top of their group.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
