Police outline plans in bid to avoid trouble at Aston Villa-Celtic clash

Police say plans will be in place to “allow fans to savour the occasion and keep the wider public safe” when Aston Villa host Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The fixture comes six days on from Manchester United’s 2-1 home win over Rangers in the Europa League, when trouble led to 39 arrests being made.

Superintendent Jack Hadley, the match commander for Wednesday’s contest, said in a statement from West Midlands Police: “We’re looking forward to another great Champions League occasion here in Birmingham.

“We are anticipating a large number of people coming into the city and we want everyone to enjoy what it has to offer.

“We’ll have additional officers in and around the city centre and as a police force we are used to dealing with large events such as high-profile football matches.

“We’ll have plans in place to allow fans to savour the occasion, and city, and keep the wider public safe.”

Greater Manchester Police’s statement about last Thursday’s game at Old Trafford said of the 39 arrests, 26 were made in the Ancoats area of Manchester after disorder broke out before the match.

It said further arrests were made “on suspicion of drug offences, drunk and disorderly behaviour, tragedy chanting, and assault of a steward.”

After it appeared some Rangers supporters had got into parts of the stadium reserved for home fans, a United spokesperson said the club had taken “the strictest possible measures to prevent sales to away fans in home areas”.

The spokesperson added: “Whilst the unauthorised touting of tickets has become more difficult since our introduction of in-app digital ticketing, it cannot be completely eliminated.

“All examples of away fans in home areas will be investigated over the coming days, with the strongest possible sanctions taken against the registered holders.”