Two supporters of Swiss club BSC Young Boys were arrested following significant disorder in the away end during Thursday night's Europa League match at Villa Park.
Match Night Chaos
The trouble erupted during the first half of the fixture on Thursday, November 27. According to West Midlands Police, away fans began throwing items onto the pitch and at officers.
Broken seats and coins were among the objects hurled by the section of Swiss supporters, creating a dangerous situation for players and officials alike.
Player Injured Amid Celebrations
The violence directly impacted the game when Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen was struck. The 26-year-old player suffered a cut to his head after being hit by an object as he celebrated scoring a goal for his team.
Despite the disruption, Villa went on to secure a 2-1 victory in the European tie.
Police Response and Investigation
West Midlands Police confirmed the two arrests. The individuals were detained on suspicion of affray and assaulting a police officer.
In a statement, Superintendent Paul Minor said: "We won’t tolerate violence of any kind at football matches. 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 has been launched, with officers now reviewing body-worn video and CCTV footage from the stadium to identify further individuals involved in the disorder.
