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 fans making the journey to the Netherlands.
The buildup to the match was scarred by ugly scenes with a brawl breaking out between rival supporters.
According to Dutch reports, five local people were arrested after the incident, which took place outside an Irish pub.
A video shared by by X account The Away Days, shows 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, again dressed in black clothing, arrive en masse with what looks like the intention to fight – before dispersing due to the 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.
In the lead up to kick-off on Thursday, there was a police presence as Villa supporters congregated 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 about 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.’
