Aston Villa fans urged to contact club over goading allegations during Crystal Palace clashes
Aston Villa fans have been urged to contact the club over allegations supporters were goaded by a steward that led to clashes with police against Crystal Palace.
A statement from the Aston Villa Supporters' Trust urged fans to contact the club's operations manager Lee Preece after ugly scenes at the end of the game on Saturday.
One Villa fan was arrested and a video emerged showing police using a baton against fans. However, supporters' trust director Jonny Gould has claimed a Palace steward had made an obscene gesture after Villa's late equaliser was controversially disallowed.
He said: "It was very, very unpleasant. A steward goaded Villa fans with a two-fingered gesture and then the police drew batons and it escalated very quickly.
"What I would not like to see is for this to become the new policing norm for the new season.
"It was way out of proportion. Fans were obviously angered by some pretty awful refereeing decisions thoughout the game.
"Then with the goal ruled out to be goaded like that, it was bound to cause a problem. The steward was entirely responsible for it."
Mr Gould said a woman was pushed over and he had heard reports that a Villa fan had suffered a broken ankle.
Villa defender Bjorn Engels stepped in at one point in a bid to calm the situation.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "There was a small amount of disorder involving away supporters, requiring steward and police intervention.
"A man was arrested on suspicion of affray and is currently in custody. Body worn footage and CCTV is going to be reviewed and an investigation is under way."
