Violent Confrontation Before Match

A police officer was engulfed in flames and three other officers were injured in a violent clash with Legia Warsaw football fans. The incident occurred just minutes before the Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Two police horses and two dogs were also injured as Legia fans hurled missiles at the police.

Rioting and Chaos

There was chaos outside Villa Park as Legia Warsaw supporters rioted against the police. Flares were lit by the traveling support, creating a chaotic scene. The Legia fans were furious that they were denied entry into the ground, resulting in a bizarre atmosphere inside the stadium.

Police Battle with Fans

Trouble erupted after police in riot gear kettled the fans into a car park near the stadium. One officer was hit by a flare and taken to the hospital with burns. The away section of Villa Park was completely empty as Legia fans were not allowed entry.

Ticket Allocation Cut

Legia followers were enraged after their ticket allocation was reduced from 1,700 to 1,002 due to violent clashes with Dutch police in Alkmaar. Almost 1,000 ticketless Polish fans attempted to gatecrash the turnstiles, causing the police to mount a huge security operation.

39 Arrested

West Midlands Police confirmed that 39 people were arrested on suspicion of offenses including violent disorder and assaulting a police officer. They condemned the "disgusting and highly dangerous scenes" that took place.

No Away Fans Allowed

Aston Villa Football Club confirmed that no away fans were allowed into Villa Park for the match due to the disorder caused by Legia Warsaw supporters. Villa had repeatedly raised concerns to Legia about ticketless away supporters attempting to attend the match.

Legia Blames Aston Villa

Incredibly, Legia released a statement blaming Aston Villa for "exacerbating the situation" with their restrictive measures. Legia boss Kosta Runjaic expressed disappointment that the fans weren't in the stadium, but refrained from commenting further on the details of the events.

Missiles Thrown at Fans

Footage on social media showed missiles being thrown at Villa fans from outside the stadium. Some Polish fans were ejected from the home end by stewards.

On-Field Action

In the match, Villa took an early lead with a goal from Moussa Diaby. Ernest Muci equalized for Legia Warsaw before Alex Moreno put Villa back in front. The match ended with Villa winning 2-1.

Overall, it was a night of violence and chaos outside Villa Park as Legia Warsaw fans clashed with the police. The actions of the fans resulted in the exclusion of all Legia supporters from the match. The incident is currently under investigation by the authorities.