Protests and Arrests Mar Villa-Maccabi Europa Clash
Tensions ran high in Birmingham, England, when the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv drew large-scale demonstrations and a huge police presence on Thursday night, 6 November.
More than 700 officers were deployed around Villa Park, where pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups gathered amid fears of unrest linked to the conflict in Gaza.
Eleven arrests were made for offences including racially aggravated disorder, fireworks possession, and controlled substances offences. Police described the operation as one of the most complex in recent years, but said the match “passed without serious incident.”
Around 200 pro-Palestinian protesters rallied near Trinity Road, waving flags and calling for a boycott of Israel, while approximately 40 pro-Israeli campaigners assembled nearby under banners reading “Keep antisemitism out of football.”
The Reverend Tim Gutmann, founder of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, told supporters they were opposing “an ancient hate and an ancient evil that hasn’t stopped.”
Aston Villa’s 2-0 win unfolded in a subdued atmosphere, with away fans absent after Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group banned Maccabi supporters over safety concerns. The Israeli club later declined their ticket allocation, citing “hard lessons learned.”
Outside, Villa fan, Adam Selway, summed up the mood: “It’s not about politics, it’s about football.”
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