Six arrested at protest held before Aston Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham

LAST UPDATE | 7 hrs ago

SIX PEOPLE HAVE been arrested amid protests held in Birmingham before Aston Villa’s football match with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group announced last month that visiting fans would be barred from attending the match at Villa Park on public safety concerns.

More than 700 police officers were deployed for tonight’s Europa League clash amid concerns over potential disorder.

Before the match, around 200 protesters including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered near Villa Park’s Trinity Road stand to demand Israel is excluded from international football.

Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel had also been placed on the ground beside Trinity Road amid pro-Palestinian chants.

Publicising the demonstration earlier, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said Israeli football “is deeply involved in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians”. 

“The Israel Football Association, of which Maccabi Tel Aviv is a member, contains at least six clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land,” the group said. 

“Maccabi Tel Aviv has itself supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza by sending care packages to serving Israeli soldiers.”

West Midlands Police said a 21-year-old man was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, while a 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order.

The police said three other people were arrested “for racially aggravated public order offences”, while another person was arrested for breach of the peace.

Earlier, a West Midlands Police chief told Sky News that it took the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match due to “significant levels of hooliganism” in the fan base. 

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Around 40 protesters, one carrying an Israeli flag, and others carrying posters saying “keep antisemitism out of football”, gathered on a basketball court on Witton Lane, close to the Doug Ellis Stand, to hear various speakers oppose the ban on Maccabi fans.

The Revd Tim Gutmann, founder of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, told the crowd that the protest was against “an ancient hate and an ancient evil that hasn’t stopped, and has again risen in our time”.

Holding up a placard saying “Never Again Is Now”, he added: “As a Christian it’s important for me to be here to show that we stand with our fight and stop the hate.

“These are huge moments for a nation. We cannot have no-go zones for Israeli football fans. We can’t have no-go zones for Jewish people.”

Villa supporter Adam Selway arrived for the match wearing a half-and-half scarf in the colours of the home side and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The 48-year-old said he was not making any political statement, felt sympathy with fans unable to attend and simply wanted to watch a football match.

“It’s not about politics, it’s about football,” he said. “It’s not the Villa fans that don’t want anyone here – the Villa fans want the away fans here.”

Maccabi announced it would decline any away tickets for the clash after the Government said it was “working around the clock” to ensure fans from both sides could attend.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had called for the ban on away fans to be overturned, saying it was “the wrong decision”.

In a statement on Monday, West Midlands Police said anyone who engaged in crime and disorder before the game would be arrested. 

Birmingham police commander Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said: “Our message to those from all communities in Birmingham is that we have listened and will continue to engage with you.

“We remain committed to maintaining the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

“Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate.”