Police make six arrests during heated protests after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned from Villa Park
Six people were arrested during protests outside Villa Park on Thursday night as tensions ran high before Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The unrest followed a decision to ban Maccabi fans from attending the fixture on safety grounds, a move that has provoked significant debate and anger from both sides.
The demonstration, held near the stadium in Birmingham, was organised by pro-Palestine campaigners calling for the match to be cancelled and for Israeli football teams to be excluded from international competitions. Hundreds gathered outside the ground hours before kick-off, waving flags and holding placards as chants filled the air.
A smaller counter-demonstration also took place near the away end, where a group of protesters gathered to oppose the fan ban and express solidarity with Maccabi supporters. Police officers escorted the group to a fenced basketball court to prevent clashes between the two sides.
West Midlands police deployed more than 700 officers for the operation, supported by dog units, mounted patrols and a drone team monitoring the crowds from above. Authorities also enforced a section 60 order across parts of Birmingham, granting officers temporary powers to stop and search individuals without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion.
A police spokesperson later confirmed that six arrests had been made throughout the evening. Three people were detained for racially aggravated offences, one for a breach of the peace, one for refusing to remove a face covering when instructed, and a 17-year-old boy for ignoring a dispersal order.
The pro-Palestine demonstration was attended by several community figures, including independent MP Ayoub Khan, who addressed the crowd with a call for continued action. “We will continue in our plight and in our fight to support the Palestinians who are being massacred,” he said, receiving loud applause from the assembled protesters.
Around the stadium, banners reading “No war games allowed” and “Zionists not welcome” were hung along the fences. Video clips shared online showed crowds chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Death to the IDF.” Police were seen separating groups of opposing demonstrators, while some far-right individuals were reportedly present near the scene. Officers were overheard discussing their presence and monitoring the situation closely.
Usman Rafiq, a 43-year-old GP, attended the protest with his wife, Uma Hani, a 40-year-old dentist, and their three children. Hani said the family came “to show solidarity with the people of Palestine” and criticised the decision to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv to play in Birmingham.
“A lot of people say that sport shouldn’t be part of politics, but it always is,” said Rafiq. “Football is part of the wider conversation about what’s happening globally, and today is no different.”
When asked about claims that the Israeli club had been treated unfairly, Rafiq argued that Maccabi fans had displayed what he described as “Islamophobic hooliganism” in previous matches, pointing to incidents involving the tearing down of Palestinian flags in Amsterdam.
Inside the stadium, Aston Villa went on to win the match, with goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen. But outside, the atmosphere remained tense even after kick-off, with police maintaining a strong presence to prevent further escalation.
The evening’s events have reignited discussion about the intersection of sport, politics and public safety. The ban on Maccabi supporters, while defended by some as a precautionary measure, has been condemned by others as discriminatory. Authorities said the decision was made in light of security concerns and intelligence about potential unrest.
By the end of the night, crowds had largely dispersed without major violence, though the arrests underscored the volatility surrounding fixtures involving Israeli teams. Police said investigations into the offences would continue in the coming days.