#fan-safety

#fan-safety

In a statement, Birmingham-based club Villa said they had been informed that local police had "public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night." West Midlands Police said they had classified the November 6 fixture as "high risk" following a "thorough assessment." "This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam," police said in a statement. In November 2024, that fixture in the Netherlands was marred by violent clashes linked to the crisis in the Middle East which left at least five people needing hospital treatment and resulted in over 60 arrests.

Emma, 40, from Liverpool, expressed her ongoing distress about the incident, stating, "I've been feeling awful ever since I can't stop thinking about him. It happened directly behind our right shoulders."

UEFA has issued a warning to fans against purchasing tickets on the secondary market for the upcoming Europa League final, stressing that such purchases may result in cancellation and ejection.