Tensions erupted outside Birmingham's Villa Park stadium on Thursday evening as six individuals were arrested during competing protests surrounding the contentious Europa League match between Aston Villa and Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Major Police Operation and Conflicting Demonstrations
A significant police presence, involving more than 700 officers, police dogs, horses, and a drone unit, was deployed to manage the situation. Authorities had implemented a Section 60 order in parts of Birmingham, granting stop and search powers without the need for reasonable grounds.
The match proceeded under the shadow of a controversial decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (Sag) to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending on public safety grounds. This decision, based on police intelligence classifying the fixture as "high risk" following incidents at a previous match in Amsterdam, sparked intense debate.
A large pro-Palestine demonstration gathered near the stadium, with protesters demanding the match be cancelled and for Israeli teams to be banned from international football. The demonstration featured speakers including local independent MP Ayoub Khan, who told the crowd, "We will continue in our plight and in our fight to support the Palestinians who are being massacred."
Signs around the stadium read, "No war games allowed. Zionists not welcome," and chants of "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" were heard.
Arrests and Counter-Protest
In response to the fan ban, a smaller counter-demonstration formed at the away end of the stadium to "stand in solidarity with Maccabi fans." Police directed these demonstrators to hold their protest in a caged basketball court.
West Midlands Police confirmed six arrests were made. These included:
- Three people for racially aggravated offences.
- One person for a breach of the peace.
- A 21-year-old man for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask.
- A 17-year-old teenage boy for failing to comply with a dispersal order.
The Guardian reported observing officers discussing the presence of far-right individuals and witnessing people swearing and making gestures at the pro-Palestine demonstrators.
Community Reaction and Political Fallout
The pre-match tension had a wider community impact, with some local schools closing early and Birmingham City Council staff advised to avoid the area.
Attendees expressed strong views on both sides. Usman, a 43-year-old GP who attended the pro-Palestine protest with his family, stated that Maccabi "should not have been playing in our city," arguing that sport is inherently political.
Conversely, counter-demonstrators like 76-year-old Jill Chant said she was "shocked" by the ban and came to "protest against the antisemitism." Her husband, Steven, wearing a Maccabi shirt, called the ban "nothing to do with football, it's all to do with sectarian politics – to be precise antisemitism."
The decision to ban fans had drawn criticism from political figures prior to the match, with Labour leader Keir Starmer calling it "wrong" and Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch branding it a "national disgrace."
Despite the friction, Maccabi fan Eran Hendler, 57, who travelled from Tel Aviv, said he felt safe in Birmingham but lamented that decisions were being influenced by an "extreme" minority rather than the majority of fans who simply wanted to watch the football.
