The windscreen of Aston Villa’s team bus was hit by a brick as the squad was making its way back to the Midlands after a triumphant victory against Burnley.
The incident occurred at junction 10 of the M65 motorway following a Sunday Premier League match that Aston Villa had won 3-1.
While no one was injured in this incident, the potential consequences were severe.
As the Aston Villa team bus was making its way back from Burnley, a brick was thrown from a footbridge over the motorway.
The bus was struck by the brick, causing damage to its windscreen. Astonishingly, this incident took place amid heavy traffic leaving the area after the Premier League match.
The timing of the incident added to the gravity of the situation, as it could have easily led to a more serious accident, potentially causing injury or even loss of life.
In response to the incident, both Aston Villa and Burnley Football Club issued statements expressing their concern and condemnation of such behaviour.
The Aston Villa team bus getting attacked #AVFC pic.twitter.com/ZzWFftBNXu
— MC (@MaxTheLantern) August 27, 2023
Burnley FC stated that they were relieved to hear that no one was hurt but strongly condemned the act.
The club further pledged its support to Lancashire Police in their efforts to identify and apprehend the responsible individual.
Superintendent Melita Worswick of Lancashire Police emphasized the potentially catastrophic nature of the incident, noting that it was fortunate that the brick did not result in more significant damage or cause serious injuries.
The incident occurred a mere two miles away from Burnley’s Turf Moor ground, a poignant reminder that such incidents can occur uncomfortably close to the heart of the footballing experience.
This incident isn’t the first time that Burnley has experienced concerning fan behaviour. Earlier in the same season, following their opening match against Premier League champions Manchester City, Burnley FC issued a statement condemning unacceptable behaviour exhibited by some supporters.
These incidents included throwing items onto the field and fans attempting to breach the playing area.
The previous match saw City defender Rico Lewis struck by a lighter thrown from the crowd, underscoring the dangers of such actions.
