No away fans

[tomd2103]

That statement is laughable really.  Firstly they don't seem to understand that the decision to reduce the away capacity was not made by Villa, it was made by a Safety Advisory Group which includes a number of local organisations. 

They also fail to mention the problems their fans have caused at previous away games and that the decision to reduce the capacity was based on that. 

To be honest, they have come across as entitled and arrogant w@nkers in the aftermath of all this.

[PeterWithe]

You’d guess that the constructive feedback was ‘let anyone in who fancies it if they have a ticket or not’

[pablo_picasso]

yeah i'm starting to think 2000 of them is a hoax, no footage of them in town , at the airport etc
i'm guessing 500-1000 came over say 750

But they had more than that in terms of ticket allocation to all get into the stadium.

Logically, your math doesn't work...

[AV84]

Where does the 2000 number come from? Is it just an assumption based on that's how many tickets they were supposed to get?

Their statement reads like they offered their own safety advice, but it's quite possible that was "let everyone in or they'll smash the place up."

[PeterWithe]

There didnt look to be 2000 people in that car park, there didnt look to be 750.

Sure it will all become clear soon.

[Richard E]

Not a single word of condemnation of their fans’ behaviour.

[pablo_picasso]

Looks like they’ll be arguing that they can only be held responsible for the actions of fans who had tickets and entered the ground…


Statement of Legia Warsaw
 
In compliance with UEFA regulations and public law, Aston Villa F.C., as the host club, along with local authorities, has a responsibility to ensure an adequate level of security both inside the stadium and in its immediate surroundings. Prior to our match against Aston Villa F.C., we have consistently maintained that our responsibility extends only to individuals entering the visitors' sector with tickets distributed by us. No club should be held accountable for the actions of unidentified individuals without tickets for the match.
 
Our staff arrived in Birmingham earlier than usual and maintained continuous communication with the English club, UEFA, and the local police. We repeatedly informed the British counterparts about necessary measures for the security of the venue and its vicinity. Despite this, the British police, in their official responses, only acknowledged the potential risks without implementing our suggestions. Regrettably, due to the actions and inactions of Aston Villa F.C., adverse incidents occurred yesterday. By disregarding our constructive feedback, the host club bears full responsibility for the situation.
 
Aston Villa F.C. breached UEFA regulations multiple times - initially by not allocating the required 2,100 tickets (5% of the stadium's capacity), then reducing the agreed 1,700 tickets to just 890. Such decisions contributed to the escalation of tensions.
 
We have repeatedly highlighted the emotional impact on numerous individuals from Poland and the UK who, despite incurring high travel and accommodation costs, were denied tickets, contrary to the inter-club agreement of 21 September. The host club and the British authorities were fully aware of these circumstances. Respecting the host's responsibility for security, we consistently communicated the British restrictions through our club channels.
 
Due to the inability to authenticate and distribute tickets effectively, Legia Warsaw returned the tickets to the host club. We emphasize that none of the individuals detained by the police had tickets for yesterday's match. Therefore, we strongly object to Legia Warsaw being blamed for Thursday's incidents in Birmingham.
 
For years, visiting supporters and official delegations have been safely accommodated during matches at Legia Warsaw's stadium. Our commitment to ensuring the safety of visiting team fans has been consistently recognized, as experienced by representatives from Aston Villa F.C., Zrinjski Mostar, and FK Austria Vienna this season.
 
As a club, we are committed to upholding the highest standards in line with UEFA regulations. We expect reciprocal conduct from other club representatives. We remain prepared to present further evidence to UEFA regarding the actions of the British Police and Aston Villa F.C.

They seem to forget that UEFA agreed to the reduction to 1000 a month ago. So complain all they want, I definitely trust our clubs events over theirs.

At least they were kind enough to admit that they refused to distribute the tickets to their fans who had already travelled to England.

Backs up what we have been saying.

I really hope that shitty little tinpot club & its gang of hooligans gets a long European ban.

English clubs needed that to fix our hooligan problems.

So do Legia...

[luke95]

Not really bizarre.

40k fans appear and disappear within a 4 hour window when we have a match on at home so 5 % of that could appear and disappear in a shorter time frame. Most of the normal supporters would have just gone back to their hotel rooms, bars or even home once they were released from the area by Police. The troublemakers who stayed were then some of the ones trying to force their way in the gates at the North and Holte and throwing condiments.

No it is very unusual in today's world . Not even 1 clip from their side of the compound or of their ultras meeting up anywhere
Yet there a dozen or so different  clips of the clash of the condiments on Trinity Rd .
Very odd.

[pauliewalnuts]

They're also forgetting not coming to take the tickets off us until less than two hours before kick off.

[Somniloquism]

TBH, I don't know who has officially stated 2 k fans were in the compound anyway. The number is more bandied around as Legia kept on stating they and the fans expected 2k tickets and they had already bought their transport and were still coming. It might well be the more sane fans had cancelled last month, or came over and stayed in town rather then head for the ground on the off-chance, with any sane fans who had a ticket taking a swerve on the night when they knew their nutters would be kicking off.

But even if there were only a few hundred in the compound, it doesn't excuse them or their club for the trouble that was caused.

As for the clips, their own fans might realise it is not healthy for them or the club to film their own fans kicking off, plus roaming charges etc, where Villa fans, with the vast majority having phones would have no such qualms.

[Risso]

Fucking hell, what moron put that statement out?

"We have repeatedly highlighted the emotional impact on numerous individuals from Poland and the UK who, despite incurring high travel and accommodation costs, were denied tickets."

If people are going to book travel and accommodation before they get a ticket, that risk is on them.

[PeterWithe]

Aye, they looked a sensitive bunch, particularly the ones who dismantled the generator and floodlights before chucking it at the old bill. Must have right hurt their feelings.

[VillaTim]

you normally get footage of them pre-game on X in town chanting in the streets at innocent shoppers in the afternoon, or throwing plastic chairs about etc.
Nothing , like ghosts . Perhaps they do have true ninja insurgency and espionage skills and they came and went (all 2000 of them) leaving no evidence

[Pete3206]

So that's their beef, hurty feelings? They really are pathetic.

[Pat McMahon]

In whose interest would it be to create a hoax?

the "ultras" egos . they seem to thrive off a weird notoriety of being hard men and travel in numbers . Setting women police officers on fire , sad feckers

Weren't you stating they were no hard men, it was just pretend reputation, fireworks don't hurt anyone and people should have nothing to fear from them. Pick a lane.

yeah exactly , sorry should have put "hard men" . Waving fireworks about singing West End Girls is really intimidating , so is acting hard behind a wall of coppers

It was Go West actually (well the tune) but then most football fans have chants to that. Of course the actual wording could easily be "We come, and kill you all, we come and kill you all" but nah, you seem to have now swerved into "they are not hard at all lane again"

‘ Przyjdziemy i zabijemy was wszystkich’ doesn’t scan very well.

We were in the War Saw bar in the old town after the away game and a few fans were singing to this - their lyrics are stunningly simple: “Legia, Legia Warszawa”. Repeat ad nauseum. Pub was mainly Villa fans and no problems with the Legia fans - had a drink with them and took a few photos together.

They said those ultras wearing white / team shirts are  their to sing and support their team. The ultras in black are just looking for a fight.

I feel sorry for their normal fans who traveled to see their team, spending a good amount of cash in the process, only to be kettled into a car park.