Aston Villa Fans
In November 2023, a UEFA Conference League match between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw was overshadowed by significant fan violence, described as the worst in decades. The incident involved Dawid Dembler, a 35-year-old from Walsall, who was charged with assaulting an emergency worker. Dembler’s actions were part of a chaotic scene at the Witton Lane coach park gate, where five officers sustained injuries.
Det Insp Tom Lyons said: “This was a cowardly attack on an officer who had his back turned as he worked hard to contain a violent crowd of away fans at the Witton Lane coach park gate. It caused the PC to stumble forward, but thankfully there was no lasting injury and quick work by officers nearby meant Dembler was swiftly identified and arrested. Because of the volatility of the situation on the ground, we didn’t initially know which officer had been attacked. It was only when we trawled through hundreds of hours of footage that we were able to identify it was a West Mercia officer who had been supporting the operation on the night. The footage showing him jolting forward was matched to other images, and we established it was Dembler’s kick that had caused it. The officer hadn’t been aware of exactly what had happened. Although he initially denied the attack, the evidence from the officers and their body worn cameras meant Dembler had no choice but to plead guilty.”
Dembler, who admitted to the assault at Birmingham Crown Court, was released on bail and is scheduled for sentencing in August. The incident underscores the complexities and dangers faced by law enforcement during high-tension football matches. The match, which was supposed to be a showcase of European football, instead highlighted issues of fan violence and the need for effective crowd control measures.
In addition to Dembler’s case, six other individuals face charges related to the violence, with their trial set for June 2026. This ongoing legal process reflects the serious nature of the events and the commitment of authorities to address such disruptions.
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