Police in Birmingham arrested 11 individuals during protests before the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The protests involved groups supporting both Palestine and Israel, leading to clashes outside Villa Park.
West Midlands Police confirmed that several arrests were made for racially aggravated public order offenses. Among those arrested were a 63-year-old man for shouting racist abuse, a 21-year-old for refusing to remove a face covering, and a 34-year-old for shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators. The police had deployed over 700 officers to manage the situation, including police horses, dogs, and a drone unit.
Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce described the level of concern surrounding this match as unprecedented. The police anticipated protests from multiple groups, which added to the tension in the area. A school near Villa Park closed early as a precaution.
Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were not allowed to attend the match due to safety concerns. Aston Villa stated that this decision was made based on advice from West Midlands Police, which cited previous incidents of violence involving Maccabi fans.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans was criticized by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called it the wrong choice. This issue has sparked discussions in Parliament, with government ministers questioning the police’s decision-making process.
The match itself saw Aston Villa take the lead in first-half stoppage time with a goal from Ian Maatsen. Donyell Malen later secured the win with a penalty, bringing Villa’s total to two goals while Maccabi Tel Aviv struggled to find the net.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has heightened scrutiny on Israeli teams and their participation in international sports. Previous matches involving Maccabi Tel Aviv have seen violence, raising concerns about safety at events like this one.
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