Eight supporters of Swiss football club BSC Young Boys have been arrested following alleged violent disorder during the Europa League clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Match Night Chaos
The trouble erupted on Thursday evening during Villa's 2-1 victory. West Midlands Police reported that several officers were attacked by a section of away fans. Objects including damaged seats and coins were hurled at police and Villa players.
In a concerning incident, Dutch striker Donyell Malen was struck on the head by a projectile. The disorder broke out in the lower section of the Doug Ellis Stand when Aston Villa scored the opening goal, prompting a significant police response.
Arrests and Investigation
Two visiting supporters were initially detained on suspicion of affray and assaulting a police officer on the night of the match. The following day, a further six men were arrested at Birmingham Airport, taking the total number of suspects in custody to eight.
All six men were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and violent disorder. Superintendent Paul Minor stated: "The majority of the crowd was in good spirit, but unfortunately, a small minority of away fans caused violence and disrupted the game."
He confirmed that an investigation is underway, with officers reviewing body-worn video and CCTV footage from the stadium to identify all those involved.
History of Fan Troubles
This is not the first time Young Boys have faced sanctions for their supporters' behaviour. The Swiss club was previously hit with a fine of 28,250 euros (£24,729) for similar issues involving their fans at Manchester City two years ago.
They also received a separate fine of approximately 18,000 euros (£15,756) for the use of pyrotechnics at Celtic in February, indicating a pattern of problematic behaviour from a section of their travelling support.
Dozens of police officers in riot equipment were deployed to contain the situation at Villa Park. The swift arrests demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach to football-related violence.
