Birmingham, UK – Aston Villa defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 in a Europa League match held at Villa Park on Thursday night amidst heightened security and political tension. The game, classified as "high-risk" by West Midlands Police, saw six arrests made during pre-match protests outside the stadium.
The decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match due to safety concerns sparked widespread controversy. Police cited previous incidents of violence and hate crimes involving Maccabi fans during a match against Ajax in Amsterdam last season as the basis for the ban. This decision was met with criticism from figures like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called it the wrong decision, and the Israeli embassy, which labeled it as "hostile".
A large pro-Palestine demonstration took place near Villa Park, with protesters calling for the cancellation of the match and a ban on Israeli teams in international competitions. Signs with messages such as "No war games allowed. Zionists not welcome" were displayed. Counter-protests also occurred, with supporters expressing solidarity with the banned Maccabi fans. Over 700 police officers, including mounted units, dog units, and a drone unit, were deployed to manage the situation. A Section 60 order was in effect, allowing police to conduct stop and searches without reasonable grounds.
West Midlands Police reported that three arrests were made for racially aggravated offenses, one for breach of the peace, a 21-year-old for failing to remove a face mask, and a 17-year-old for non-compliance with a dispersal order. Independent MP Ayoub Khan addressed the pro-Palestine protesters, expressing support for Palestinians.
Despite the off-field tensions, the match proceeded as planned. Ian Maatsen scored the opening goal for Aston Villa in stoppage time of the first half with a strike from a tight angle. Donyell Malen added a second goal in the 59th minute from a penalty after a foul on Ezri Konsa. Maccabi Tel Aviv had opportunities to score, but Aston Villa's goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, made crucial saves. Youri Tielemans made his return to action for Aston Villa, showcasing his passing ability.
Aston Villa's victory moves them up to sixth place in the Europa League standings. The atmosphere inside Villa Park was subdued due to the absence of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and the surrounding protests.
