'I'm a police officer who was injured during Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw disorder'

A police officer has told of the moment that he was engulfed in flames after being hit with a flare after fan violence erupted during the Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw match at Villa Park in November.

Police arrested almost 40 people as officers were injured during serious disorder involving away fans outside the stadium on November 30. Flares, bricks and bottles were thrown towards police outside of Villa Park ahead of Unai Emery side's 2-1 win.

Charges were brought against 39 Legia supporters, but the charges have since been dropped. Officers, police dogs and horses were hurt during the clashes. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that charges against seven other Legia fans are being proceeded with.

West Mercia Police officer PC Andy Forbes was one several officers supporting West Midlands Police during the violece. Forbes told the had been clearing bricks, bottles, and debris from where the officers were positioned when he was hit by a traffic sign.

Speaking to the Shropshire Star, he said: “Within a minute or so of that, a flare came in and landed on me. At that stage, I was aware of a bright pink intense light around my upper chest.

“The noise was like a high-octane burning sound; it was getting brighter and pinker. I’d got my shield in one hand and I was patting my chest thinking I’ve got to do something about this.

“I was actually quite calm. I was just thinking there’s something wrong here, you’ve got to do something about it, what are you going to do?"

He added: “I remember it as a Roman candle effect and these little orange flickers coming off it. I was going off like a crackerjack. It was getting brighter and more intense.

“I was joined by six colleagues from the West Midlands Police who were patting me to try to put out the flames. I was thrown to the floor and I fought to put the flames out. It was the old stop, drop and roll. I was on my front and I was saying to my colleagues ‘is it out, get it out’.

“The whole incident probably lasted 15 to 20 seconds and then I was aware that I had this smell, like when you chuck a bucket of water on a fire and it’s gone out." In 18 years of service, he said it was one of the most violent situations he’d policed.

He was treated overnight in hospital for minor burns, and smoke and heat inhalation.

“It’s nothing lasting, for which I’m eternally grateful for,” he said. “It could have been very different.”