Gabby Agbonlahor sends Aston Villa warning after violent PSG clashes break out
Aston Villa favourite Gabby Agbonlahor has sent a message ahead of the Champions League clash with PSG tonight
Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has sent a 'streetwise' warning to those following the Lions in Paris ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final tie with PSG at the Parc des Princes, after footage of ugly clashes were publicised on social media.
Thousands of Villa supporters have made their way to the French capital ahead of the first leg of the tie, with a place in the semi-finals of the competition up for grabs, but in the lead up to the clash on the pitch there've been fights breaking out between the respective sets of supporters.
Troubling footage showed fans outside of a bar or cafe throwing punches, glasses and chairs. It comes ahead of tonight's match, which kicks off at 8pm British time. Agbonlahor has urged vigilance among Villa supporters.
"I think fans have to be careful," Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. "It’s an amazing city, but it’s the sort of place and night where fans have to be a bit streetwise going to the game."
Agbonlahor's fellow talkSPORT pundit and presenter Alan Brazil added: "I’m not going to go into it, but I’m told there was a few clashes between fans. Paris is too nice a city for that nonsense. Don’t go on your own. That’s the golden rule. Stay in groups."
The French interior ministry has been battling against an escalation in football fan related violence over the course of the current season.
In a s statement issued last month, the ministry reported: "No fewer than 64 matches have been marked by serious incidents. Since the start of the season, 627 arrests have been made on the sidelines of professional football matches, an increase of 41% compared to last season, when there were a total of 718."
Aston Villa face PSG in the Champions League quarter-final on April 9.
The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, which costs £30.99 on a rolling monthly basis via the Discovery+ Prime Video channel and also includes the Europa League and Conference League.
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