Other Villa stuff

[Dave]

A tiny bit more on Chema Sanz joining the coaching staff;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7405480/2026/06/29/unai-emery-aston-villa-staff-chema-sanz/

Doesn't go into any detail on what his role is going to be or anything, mostly that he is 'expected' to join.

New font designer for the webpage.

[luke95]

8 Legia Warsaw fans up for trail this week after the trouble at Villa Park. Trail expected to last 4 weeks

[Dogtanian]

8 Legia Warsaw fans up for trail this week after the trouble at Villa Park. Trail expected to last 4 weeks

Let's hope the court canteen hides their condiments!

[Somniloquism]

They will probably get off because the prosecution started to lead them at the trail.

[PeterWithesShin]

Eight Legia Warsaw fans have admitted their part in violence before a match against Aston Villa in 2023.

The men all pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday and will be sentenced at the same court on 21 December.

Four police officers were hurt in clashes with away fans near Villa Park ahead of the Europa Conference match.

The tie went ahead with away fans blocked from entering the stadium over safety fears.

The eight men are Mariusz Palka, 42, Jaroslaw Gredka, 50, Gregorsz Grabon, 52, Doran Urbaniak, 42, Grezegosz Grabon, 52, Bartlomiej Szmytke, 23, Marchin Staniec, 32 and Adrian Mitura, 35.

Pictures from the scene showed police officers with batons and shields trying to regain control of the area while missiles were launched at them.

West Midlands Police said one of the injured officers had been taken to hospital, and said two police horses and two police dogs had also been hurt.

[Dogtanian]

Is it normal for there to be such a long delay before sentencing?

[andyh]

Maybe the Legia boys have got a big plastering job to get finished ?

[Halfway to Moseley]

Hope we bill them for the anti-mayo netting on the side of the Holte.

[Hopadop]

That is an unusually long time to adjourn sentence for.  It looks like they're all on bail, and possibly living in Poland, so there'll be some practical issues for probation in interviewing and preparing the Pre Sentence Reports.

Under this year's Sentencing Act the judge can now make a Suspended Sentence Order of up to 3 years, which our heroes may well be in line for.  But as part of the SSO there'll be conditions (probation, curfew, unpaid work etc) that won't be workable unless Polish probation are prepared to take it all on.  And who will pay for that etc?  What will happen when there's a breach of the Order?  There's no point the judge sentencing them to anything other than immediate custody, in the UK, unless it's all in place.

So it sounds like there'll be some cross border sorting to be done.  Nightmare.