Aston Villa supporters’ first European away day this season has been marred by trouble in Rotterdam.
Villa are in the Dutch city ahead of their Europa League trip at Feyenoord on Thursday night – with 3,000 of the Premier League club’s fanbase having made the journey to the Netherlands.
And 24 hours before that match, ugly scenes ensued on Wednesday as a brawl came to a head between rival Feyenoord and Aston Villa supporters.
According to Dutch reports, such AD, five people were arrested with the suspects all native and confirmed as so by a police spokesperson.
De Telegraaf adds that the reasons behind it are unclear but that the incident took place outside an Irish pub on Rodezland.
In a video shared by X account The Away Days, footage can be seen of people in black clothing storming an area with glasses being smashed in the background.
In another video uploaded by @K6HolteEnd, they report: ‘Me and my son were looking for a bar and got to this bar but we didn’t try to go in as it looked a bit tense then it kicked off. Here is my son’s video.’
In that video people in black clothing arrive en masse to fight before dispersing due to police presence.
As well as those videos and reports, Dutch publication AD added that fireworks were also set off in front of the hotel that Aston Villa players were staying at on Wednesday night in the hope to disturb their sleep routine.
In the lead up to kick-off on Thursday, there will be a police presence with Villa supporters to be located in the Oude Haven (Old Port) part of the city.
Rotterdam is a place of fond memories for Villa – with the Midlands outfit winning the 1982 European Cup final there 1-0 against Bayern Munich.
Fast-forward 43 years and Villa are looking to build upon their winning start in the Europa League – which came with a tight 1-0 triumph over Bologna last Thursday.
Despite that win, Unai Emery is under no illusion of the difficulty his side face against Feyenoord.
‘I know it. Of course, they [the players] know, as well, the difficulties we will face tomorrow,’ he said during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
‘Firstly, because to play away, always is difficult. Secondly, because Europa League is very, very difficult.
‘Thirdly, because Feyenoord, they performed fantastic last year in Champions League. Every team they were playing here, they were struggling.
‘And I know, the environment is really supporting them and pushing them and playing like one more player for them.
‘And we have to try to dominate through our personality, dominate our idea, to impose and try to stop them tactically and individually.
‘Be focused, 90 minutes, and respecting them like the first idea we have and the first detail we want to get tomorrow, respect them, try to play with our personality.’
