Protests Erupt as Aston Villa Defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv Under Tight Security

UK police made six arrests as a high-risk UEFA Europa League fixture between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv passed largely peacefully under heavy security in Birmingham on Thursday evening.

More than 700 police officers were deployed across the city in the West Midlands as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators staged separate protests outside Villa Park ahead of kick-off.

Last month, Villa confirmed that no Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters would be permitted to attend the match following a police risk assessment that classified the encounter as “high risk”.

Around 200 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the Trinity Road Stand, chanting “Free Palestine” and displaying banners calling for a boycott of Israel and its exclusion from international football.

Meanwhile, a smaller group of pro-Israel demonstrators assembled on the opposite side of the stadium, waving Israeli flags and holding placards before being escorted away by police.

Authorities said the heightened security measures were due to “violent clashes and hate crime offences” that occurred during Maccabi’s Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam last November — an event that led to two days of unrest between local residents and visiting Israeli fans.

An AFP correspondent observed a significant police presence outside Villa Park, with officers equipped with protective gear and riot helmets, supported by mounted police units.

“We are experienced at policing high-profile football matches and demonstrations, and for many weeks now, we have been working closely with faith and community groups to listen to their views and concerns,”
said West Midlands Police in a statement.

Placards reading “No War Games Allowed” and “Give Zionism the Red Card” were displayed near the ground, while online platforms linked to far-right activist Tommy Robinson were reported to have made Islamophobic comments about the fixture and called for protests.

One nearby school closed early to avoid potential disruption, while others reportedly considered doing the same.

“There’s a lot of anxiety,” said Robert Hussain, a 55-year-old volunteer from a local mosque, speaking to AFP before the match.

West Midlands Police, supported by officers from 25 other forces across the UK, confirmed that six individuals had been arrested for offences ranging from racially aggravated conduct to failure to comply with a dispersal order.

Aston Villa opted not to sell tickets for their own supporters in the away section of Villa Park, leaving that area empty throughout the match, which the home side won 2-0.

Maccabi Tel Aviv also declined to accept ticket allocations following unrest in Israel that prompted police to cancel a domestic Premier League fixture between Maccabi and city rivals Hapoel due to rioting between fans.

The Israeli club later condemned what it described as “hate-filled falsehoods” about its supporters, which it said had contributed to a “toxic atmosphere”.

Ayoub Khan, the independent MP representing the Birmingham constituency that includes Villa Park, noted that many local Muslim residents had expressed fears about racism in connection with the event.

Aston Villa issued a reminder to supporters before the match, urging them not to display political symbols or flags in line with UEFA regulations prohibiting political messages inside stadiums.