Birmingham, UK – Aston Villa's comfortable victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League was overshadowed by significant protests that took place outside Villa Park. The match, which Aston Villa won, was classified as high-risk, prompting a large police presence and heightened security measures.
Prior to the match, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) organized a demonstration, gathering around 200 protesters near the stadium to call for Israel's exclusion from international football, citing Israel's oppression of Palestinians. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and displayed banners advocating for a boycott of Israel. Chants, including "from the river to the sea" and "death, death to the IDF," were heard outside the stadium. The PSC argues that Israeli football is deeply involved in Israel's oppression of Palestinians and that Maccabi Tel Aviv has supported Israel's actions in Gaza. They claim that the Israel Football Association includes clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements and that Maccabi Tel Aviv has sent care packages to Israeli soldiers.
In response to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, a counter-protest was organized as a gesture of solidarity with the Israeli club. About 40 pro-Israeli demonstrators were present, carrying signs with messages such as "Keep Anti-Semitism Out of Football" and "No Tolerance for Jew Hatred". Social media footage showed that the pro-Israeli protesters were placed in a fenced-in basketball court near Villa Park by the police.
The protests led to clashes between fans and demonstrators, which were quickly diffused by police. West Midlands Police deployed over 700 officers to manage the protests and ensure the safety of the public. The police implemented Section 60 powers, allowing them to stop and search individuals without needing reasonable grounds. Six arrests were made, including a 17-year-old for failing to comply with a dispersal order, a 21-year-old for not removing a face mask, three individuals for racially aggravated public order offenses, and one person for breach of the peace. A woman waving an Israeli flag was escorted away by the police.
Maccabi Tel Aviv declined to accept tickets for their supporters after local authorities initially banned them from attending the match due to public safety concerns. West Midlands Police cited "significant levels of hooliganism" within a section of Maccabi fans as the primary reason for the ban, rather than direct threats to visiting Israelis. This decision faced criticism, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called for the ban to be overturned.
Despite the tensions and security concerns, the match proceeded without major disruptions. The protests, however, highlighted the broader political issues surrounding the involvement of Israeli teams in international sports and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
