Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Birmingham ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, prompting a large police operation and 11 arrests. West Midlands Police said more than 700 officers, supplemented by reinforcements from about 10 other forces, were deployed to manage a series of protests and counter-protests outside Villa Park.
Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said the scale of policing reflected “unprecedented” interest and concern around the fixture, with officers preparing for the possibility that people might turn up looking for a fight. He also cited what he described as significant levels of hooliganism among the Maccabi fan base as a factor behind the decision to ban away supporters from attending the game.
Pro‑Palestinian groups assembled outside the ground waving flags and placards calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. A smaller counter‑protest by pro‑Israel campaigners marched nearby, and several flatbed vehicles carrying electronic billboards drove past the stadium before kick‑off displaying messages such as “Ban hatred not fans” alongside a quote attributed to Thierry Henry about football bringing people together.
Police used Sec
