Aston Villa fans attacked in Rotterdam: Five arrests after local supporters sparked brawl with glasses thrown at Irish pub before Europe League game
Aston Villa supporters’ first European away day this season was marred by trouble in Rotterdam.
Villa were 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 build-up 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 on X shows people in black clothing storming an area – with glasses being smashed in the background.
Violence emerged in Rotterdam on Wednesday as Feyenoord and Aston Villa fans clashed
In another video, a fan reports: ‘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 of disturbing their sleep.
There was a police presence in the lead up to kick-off on Thursday, 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 continued their perfect start to their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win, with Emi Buendia and John McGinn on the scoresheet.
Despite their Premier League struggles – which have seen them win just one of their six matches so far and languishing 17th in the league table, they remain among the favourites to win Europe’s second-ranked competition this season.
According to Dutch reports, five people were arrested with the suspects all native
Villa were up against it for much of the first hour, relying on goalkeeper Marco Bizot to make a series of important saves after first-choice Emi Martinez was injured in the warm-up.
But Buendia’s clinical finish and McGinn’s penalty after a surging run from Donyell Malen took Unai Emery’s side to a third straight win in all competitions.
Aston Villa host Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday before the international break.
Their next European fixture is against another Dutch team, Go Ahead Eagles, away on October 23.
