July 10 – Eight men have admitted their roles in the violent disorder that erupted outside Villa Park before Aston Villa’s UEFA Conference League match against Legia Warsaw in November 2023, as West Midlands Police released previously unseen footage of the clashes.
Seven men pleaded guilty to violent disorder, while an eighth admitted affray ahead of a scheduled trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Sentencing is due to take place in December.
The disorder – described by police as some of the worst football-related violence seen in the UK for decades – left six officers injured after Legia Warsaw supporters attacked police with flares, poles, drainpipes, bottles and other makeshift weapons.
Among those hurt was West Mercia Police officer Andy Forbes, who suffered burns after a flare became lodged in his uniform and ignited. Two police dogs sustained injuries from broken glass, while a police horse was cut by a thrown bottle.
Around 300 officers from forces across the country were deployed to police the fixture in response to crowd disorder concerns.
West Midlands Police said more than 40 arrests were made and investigators examined around 700 hours of body-worn camera footage as part of the inquiry.
A police force spokesperson said: “Three hundred officers from the West Midlands and a number of other forces faced sustained violence, where flares, missiles, and debris were used as weapons by supporters of the Polish football club.
“Today, we can release never-before-seen footage showing the full extent of the disorder that officers faced.”
Police confirmed Aston Villa supporters were not involved in the violence and praised home fans for their cooperation throughout the evening.
Detective Inspector Tom Lyons said: “This was horrific violence from the so-called fans of Legia Warsaw, who threw missiles at officers, attacked them and hurled abuse at them. We had 300 officers, including dog handlers and mounted officers, from a range of forces across the country who were there to keep the peace and ensure fans could enjoy a memorable night of European football.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with West Midlands Police still pursuing suspects in Poland.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]