West Midlands Police have made six arrests surrounding major protests and security operations ahead of the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park.
High-Risk Operation and Fan Ban
The lead-up to the Thursday night fixture was dominated by controversy, leading to an unprecedented ban on away supporters. Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group imposed the ban last month, citing significant public safety concerns. The decision was backed by West Midlands Police, which classified the match as 'high risk' due to 'current intelligence and previous incidents'.
This reference points to Maccabi's match at Ajax in November last year, where their fans were attacked by locals, resulting in five convictions. While no Maccabi fans were prosecuted in that incident, they were reportedly seen tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab abuse.
Despite the government stating it would 'work around the clock' to enable both sets of fans to attend, Maccabi Tel Aviv later announced it would decline any away tickets even if the ban was reversed.
Arrests and Protest Activity
On the day of the match, more than 700 police officers were on duty. The force confirmed six arrests: a 21-year-old man for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, a 17-year-old boy for failing to comply with a dispersal order, three people for racially aggravated public order offences, and a further individual for a breach of the peace.
Outside the ground, around 40 protesters gathered on a basketball court on Witton Lane. The group included one person carrying an Israeli flag and others holding posters with messages like 'keep antisemitism out of football'.
Community Voices and Demonstrations
The Reverend Tim Gutmann, founder of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, addressed the crowd. He described the protest as a stand against 'an ancient hate and an ancient evil'. Holding a placard that read 'Never Again Is Now', he stated, 'We cannot have no-go zones for Israeli football fans. We can't have no-go zones for Jewish people.'
In a separate demonstration, five flatbed vehicles drove past Villa Park before kick-off. They carried electronic billboards displaying messages opposing antisemitism. One message, displayed beside a Star of David, read 'Ban hatred not fans', while another featured a quote from Thierry Henry about football's power to bring people together.
The situation had drawn commentary from national figures, including Sir Keir Starmer, who had been among those criticising the initial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv's supporters from the game.
