Legia Warsaw fans barred from Villa match after police clashes

Supporters of Polish club Legia Warsaw were barred from their match at Aston Villa on Thursday following clashes with police outside the stadium in which authorities said three officers were injured .

The disturbances occurred before kick-off of the Europa Conference League match at Villa Park, and police refused entry to traveling fans, leaving the stand empty.

“We are currently unable to allow fans into Villa Park following disturbances outside the stadium, which saw missiles thrown at police officers,” Birmingham Police said in a statement .

“Three police officers have already been injured and a major police operation continues.”

Legia Warsaw said Aston Villa had given the Polish club a lower allocation of tickets than they were entitled to under UEFA regulations.

“Instead of defusing potential pre-match tensions, the restrictive measures taken by Aston Villa FC as host club are unnecessarily exacerbating the atmosphere. In our view, such measures are counterproductive and unjustified,” Legia Warsaw said in a translated statement.

Aston Villa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“No away fans have been allowed into Villa Park for tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League match against Legia Warsaw, on the advice of West Midlands Police following large-scale disturbances at the “outside the stadium caused by visiting supporters,” the Premier League club said in a statement.

“Approximately an hour before kick-off, Legia supporters engaged in planned and systematic acts of violence against West Midlands Police officers and West Midlands Police then decided to exclude all Legia supporters.” , continues the press release.

“Aston Villa strongly condemns the behavior of these visiting supporters and would like to thank West Midlands Police for their professionalism in very difficult circumstances.”

Reuters contributed to this report.