Demonstrations involving hundreds of protesters took place in Birmingham surrounding the Aston Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which had been a source of considerable controversy.
Authorities reported six arrests amidst a significant police presence, with over 700 officers deployed for the Europa League fixture.
Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators gathered, displaying banners and flags outside Villa Park, following the prior decision to prohibit away fans from attending the game.
Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce stated that the extensive police deployment was necessitated by the organization of both protest and counter-protest groups in anticipation of the match.
“We routinely police football matches and protests, addressing various public order scenarios. However, the level of interest and concern surrounding this particular match is largely unprecedented,” he noted.
Among those arrested, three individuals were detained on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offenses.
A 21-year-old man was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face covering, and a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody for non-compliance with a dispersal order. An additional arrest was made for breach of the peace.
Pro-Palestinian protesters convened near the stadium, bearing flags and banners advocating for an end to violence in Gaza.
A counter-protest involving pro-Israeli campaigners proceeded along a road adjacent to Villa Park. Five flatbed vehicles, equipped with electronic billboards displaying messages opposing antisemitism, were driven past the stadium prior to the match’s commencement.
One message, accompanied by a Star of David, stated “Ban hatred not fans,” while another featured a quote from Thierry Henry emphasizing football’s role in uniting people rather than solely focusing on goals.
Aston Villa had previously announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would not be permitted at the match, a decision reached by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group based on intelligence provided by West Midlands Police.
According to The Guardian, police intelligence identified the primary risk of violence as stemming from extremist elements among the Israeli club’s supporters, citing a history of violence and “racist taunts” among fans likely to travel to Birmingham.
The decision became a subject of debate at the parliamentary level, leading to MPs questioning West Midlands Police regarding the move, although Chief Constable Craig Guildford defended the decision.
Maccabi Tel Aviv subsequently announced that its supporters would not travel to Birmingham due to safety concerns.
On Thursday, the West Midlands Police force was augmented by officers from 10 other forces across the country.
Chief Superintendent Joyce, Birmingham’s police commander, stated that authorities had prepared for the possibility of individuals arriving with intentions of engaging in conflict.
He told Sky News that “significant levels of hooliganism” within the Maccabi fan base were the primary reason for the ban.
Police are utilizing Section 60 powers, which permit officers to stop and search individuals, in an area encompassing Aston, Perry Barr, Birmingham New Street, and the city center, from midday until 03:00 on Friday.
Aston Villa supporter Adam Selway attended the match wearing a half-and-half scarf displaying the colors of both the home team and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Mr. Selway, 48, expressed sympathy for fans unable to attend and stated his desire to simply enjoy a football match, emphasizing that he was not making any political statement.
“It’s not about politics; it’s about football,” he said. “It’s not the Villa fans who don’t want anyone here – the Villa fans want the away fans here.”
Earlier in the day, businesses and schools in the vicinity of Villa Park closed early.
Meanwhile, Elliot Ludvig, a Jewish Villa fan, described his apprehension about attending the match.
Mr. Ludvig, who attended the game with his son, told the BBC: “I’m apprehensive about what’s going to happen, particularly regarding the potential for violence.
“I’m also concerned about potential unpleasant experiences we might encounter both outside and inside the stadium.”
He added that his other significant emotion was “disappointment.”
“Is it worth attending a football game if it potentially puts myself at risk or exposes my son to unpleasant situations?,” he questioned.
Calls for calm were issued, including from the fan group Punjabi Villans, which urged respect and safe journeys for all, posting on social media: “We’re in this together. Football unites us.”
On Wednesday night, Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Jack Angelides expressed his “incredibl[e] sad[ness]” that his side’s fans could not be there, adding: “Politics should never be drawn into football.”
As plans for protests were underway earlier in the week, Naeem Malik, chair of West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, stated that there had been national outrage over the hosting of the Israeli team.
“The calls to cancel this match have been ignored despite the risks that it carries, therefore we must urge activists to unite in protest against this match,” he said.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Kashmir solidarity campaign and Palestinian Forum in Britain had called for the match to be cancelled and jointly organised one of the protests.
Independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Ayoub Khan, was among the most vocal opponents of the game taking place and attended a demonstration outside Villa Park, leading a chant of Free, Free Palestine.
“We have a very diverse community here, we have children here, families that have come out to support the plight of the Palestinians,” he said.
“We have shown that we are a welcoming community, that we want to support footballers but we don’t support hooligans, and we don’t support genocide.”
In September, a UN commission of inquiry said Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza with reasonable grounds to conclude four out of five genocidal acts had been carried out.
Israel’s foreign ministry said it categorically rejected the UN report, denouncing it as “distorted and false”.
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