Police Arrest 11 Protesters Opposing Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv Ahead of Birmingham Match

Police made multiple arrests around Villa Park as protests flared before Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“Residents of Aston and local Aston Villa fans are growing increasingly anxious about the heavy police presence in the area, with one supporter likening it to the 1970s period known for higher levels of hooliganism”

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Several mainstream outlets report 11 arrests with ages ranging from 17 to 67.

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Offenses included racially aggravated public order, ignoring dispersal orders, attempted fireworks throwing, and drug possession.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in their hundreds calling for a boycott of Israel and, in some cases, for the match’s cancellation.

A smaller counter-protest supported the banned Israeli fans.

Police intervened quickly to keep groups apart and maintain order during a high-security operation involving more than 700 officers.

Police presence was unprecedented for a club fixture, with over 700 officers deployed.

The deployment included mounted units, dogs, drones, and mutual aid from multiple forces.

Al Jazeera

Stop-and-search powers were expanded under Section 60 for the event.

West Midlands Police described the night as one of the most contentious events they have handled recently.

Officers actively separated groups to prevent escalation during the event.

Local coverage noted targeted measures such as road policing and a drone unit.

Visible patrols and protest liaison officers were also deployed to manage the situation.

A central flashpoint was the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv’s away fans.

“West Midlands Police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa due to intelligence indicating significant hooliganism risks among some Israeli fans, not because of threats against them”

Arab News

Local authorities’ Safety Advisory Group and police cited public safety and intelligence about possible violence as reasons for the ban.

Several outlets report government and prime ministerial criticism of the ban.

Some mainstream sports and news outlets attribute the decision to concerns about a subset of Maccabi supporters with a history of hooliganism.

Others frame it more generally as a response to heightened tensions around the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Maccabi officials also criticised portrayals of their fans.

Alleged offenses occurred on both sides of the demonstrations.

Multiple sources reported racially aggravated abuse directed at pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, as well as at a police officer.

BBC

Police also noted refusals to remove face coverings and failure to obey dispersal orders.

Additional offenses included drug possession and an attempt to throw fireworks toward the stadium.

Local reports provide details on specific arrests and the ages of those involved.

Other outlets describe the charges in broader terms.

There were moments of tension that required police cordons.

One such moment happened after an Israeli flag was waved near the ground.

Despite the tensions, the game proceeded and finished 2–0 to Aston Villa without serious incidents or disruption.

“Eleven people were arrested around Villa Park in a massive police operation involving more than 700 officers”

Birmingham Live

Most accounts say crowds were kept apart and order largely maintained, though outlets differ on the size of the demonstrations and the number of arrests.

Birmingham Live

Some reports also note fans and organizers who sought to keep politics out of the stadium, while others stress that political expression was constrained by regulations inside the ground.

Overall, police and local authorities framed their approach around preventing disorder amid a high‑risk fixture.