Birmingham, UK – Six individuals were taken into custody in Birmingham on Thursday evening ahead of the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The arrests occurred amidst demonstrations surrounding the match, which has been a focal point due to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the game.
West Midlands Police, which deployed over 700 officers, stated the arrests were made for a variety of offenses. A 21-year-old man was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, and a 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order. Additionally, three individuals were arrested for racially aggravated public order offenses, and one person was arrested for breach of the peace.
Prior to the match, approximately 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered near a children's playpark adjacent to Villa Park's Trinity Road stand. Demonstrators displayed Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel, accompanied by pro-Gaza chants. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been advocating for the cancellation of the match and the exclusion of Israel from international football.
On the opposite side of the stadium, near the Doug Ellis Stand, around 40 protesters, including one person carrying an Israeli flag, assembled with posters promoting messages such as "Keep antisemitism out of football". This group convened to hear speakers voice their opposition to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
Adding to the charged atmosphere, five vehicles with electronic billboards displaying messages against antisemitism drove past the stadium before kickoff. One message featured a Star of David and read "Ban hatred not fans," while another displayed a quote from French soccer legend Thierry Henry, emphasizing football's unifying power.
Tensions flared when police officers formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after a passer-by reportedly waved an Israeli flag. According to witnesses, the individual was escorted to a side street and spoken to by police before leaving the area.
The decision by Birmingham authorities last month to ban visiting fans from attending the match has sparked considerable controversy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among those who criticized the decision, deeming it "the wrong decision". Conversely, others have supported the ban, citing concerns about Maccabi fans. West Midlands Police classified the fixture as high-risk based on "current intelligence and previous incidents".
Ayoub Khan, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, addressed the crowds, stating that people had come out to “support the plight of the Palestinians”. He added, “We have shown that we are a welcoming community, that we want to support footballers. But we don't support hooligans and we don't support genocide".
West Midlands Police have stated that a large policing operation will remain in place for the Europa League match, and that anyone engaging in crime or disorder will be arrested.
