Villa Park: Three men deny violence before Legia Warsaw game

Five police officers, two police dogs and two horses were hurt in the clashes near Villa Park on 30 November

Three men have denied taking part in disorder after violence broke out before an Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw game.

Five police officers, police dogs and horses were injured in clashes ahead of the match at Villa Park on 30 November.

Doran Urbaniak, Marchin Staniec and Bartlomiej Szmytke each pleaded not guilty to a charge of violent disorder, at Birmingham Crown Court.

They were released on conditional bail ahead of a hearing in March 2025.

Mr Urbaniak, 40, of Tudor Road, Leicester, Mr Staniec, 30, and Mr Szmytke, 21, are set to stand trial at the same court from 28 April 2025.

The men are accused of being part of a group who used or threatened unlawful violence which left people fearing for their personal safety.

Forty-six men were arrested after "all hell broke loose" before the club's European Conference League fixture at Villa Park in November.

Bricks, bottles, flares and a portable toilet were thrown at officers in "egregious, sustained and horrific" violence near the stadium

Criminal charges against 39 of the Polish fans had since been dropped, but charges against seven men were being proceeded with, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Thursday.

The court had heard how bricks, bottles, flares and a portable toilet had been thrown at officers in "egregious, sustained and horrific" violence near the stadium.

A total of five officers, two police dogs and two police horses were hurt after violence erupted when Legia Warsaw fans were not given tickets to enter Villa Park, West Midlands Police said.

Jakub Czernik, 29, of Hayes, Hillingdon, in west London, was fined for cocaine possession.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a Class A drug, was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.

A violent order charge was also dismissed against Karol Talkowski, 33, of Camberwell, London.