No away fans

[TonyD]

Assuming he has been at WMP all that time and not just within multiple forces, the only thing that might have run it close is the Birmingham riots in 2011. But I'm guessing the flares and the injuries involved, plus the viciousness of some of what they did might be it. He isn't the only one stating it is the worst they have seen, that independent advisor on hooliganism stated similar.

Which makes me think it wasn’t just the confrontations at the car park gates.

[Somniloquism]

Yes. But "bad as it was, it didn't seem to bad" seems to be you going on a couple of videos shown by passing supporters. It could have easily escalated after and the damage in picture elsewhere shows it was all along the fence and not just the gates. The pictures also include where they tried to throw a floodlight stanchion at the Police.

[dave.woodhall]

As a few of us have said, if you weren't on Witton Lane you didn't see anything. I've certainly never known such a sustained attack on the police as that.

[pauliewalnuts]

The reason it didn’t look so bad to many people was the police doing their job - containing and controlling it.

I’m no fan of WMP but they did a good job in very difficult circumstances

[TonyD]

As a few of us have said, if you weren't on Witton Lane you didn't see anything. I've certainly never known such a sustained attack on the police as that.

Understood - it was a sustained attack.  The rhetoric now makes sense. 

[dave.woodhall]

As a few of us have said, if you weren't on Witton Lane you didn't see anything. I've certainly never known such a sustained attack on the police as that.

Understood - it was a sustained attack.  The rhetoric now makes sense. 

A police statement said it was premeditated.

[TonyD]

As a few of us have said, if you weren't on Witton Lane you didn't see anything. I've certainly never known such a sustained attack on the police as that.

Understood - it was a sustained attack.  The rhetoric now makes sense. 

A police statement said it was premeditated.

Judging by past behaviour by Legia they were right.

[TonyD]

They should be banned.  Let’s see what happens
We all know how corrupt UEFA is - especially with their chairman in their gang.

[Rory]

This ******. All hurt by events this week created a new badge for us.

https://x.com/k3233590/status/1731011351512805642?s=46

It's facing the right way, there's no star. I think they're on to something, the ticket-quibbling, mayonnaise-hurling tarts.

[tomd2103]

They should be banned.  Let’s see what happens
We all know how corrupt UEFA is - especially with their chairman in their gang.

Knowing what UEFA are like, it really wouldn't surprise me if we got some of the blame from them.

[adrenachrome]

As a few of us have said, if you weren't on Witton Lane you didn't see anything. I've certainly never known such a sustained attack on the police as that.

Understood - it was a sustained attack.  The rhetoric now makes sense. 

A police statement said it was premeditated.

Clearly, it was premeditated, and the WMP, were prepared.
When the police deploy horses and dogs, that is usually a sign that they expect trouble.
Sadly, these ultra dudes think that if there are no guns on display then it is party time.
TBH, in retrospect, this could have very much worse.

[London Villan]

The fact that officers were drafted in from 5 different forces to be part of one of the biggest ever police operations at Villa Park backs that up.

[lovejoy]

WMP have charged 46 men (arsewipes) aged between 21 and 63 with various offences following Thursday night’s game. All but 1 to appear before magistrates in Brum today.

So 1954 were treated badly having done nothing wrong and 840 odd of them at least had valid tickets?

[Pat McMahon]

WMP have charged 46 men (arsewipes) aged between 21 and 63 with various offences following Thursday night’s game. All but 1 to appear before magistrates in Brum today.

So 1954 were treated badly having done nothing wrong and 840 odd of them at least had valid tickets?

No. The police wouldn’t have nicked everybody who was playing up, just the most aggressive and accessible. If they arrested 46 people I would reckon on at least 5 times as many were involved - based on the way cops used to Nick people in the bad old days.

[dave.woodhall]

WMP have charged 46 men (arsewipes) aged between 21 and 63 with various offences following Thursday night’s game. All but 1 to appear before magistrates in Brum today.

So 1954 were treated badly having done nothing wrong and 840 odd of them at least had valid tickets?

Perhaps you should stop taking your friend's word at face value and look at what everyone else has to say on the subject.