LONDON (BN24) — British police said Friday that 10 people were arrested during and around Thursday night’s Europa League match in Birmingham between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, an event marked by tight security and political tension.
West Midlands Police confirmed that the game at Villa Park, labeled high-risk due to potential clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, concluded without major disruptions. Five of the 10 individuals arrested remain in custody, including two men accused of racially aggravated public order offenses and another suspected of attempting to throw fireworks into the stadium.
More than 700 officers were deployed to secure the area surrounding Villa Park. Ahead of kickoff, a large pro-Palestinian protest gathered outside the stadium, with hundreds displaying Palestinian flags and banners denouncing Israel. Tensions briefly spiked when a woman carrying an Israeli flag passed by the demonstrators but was swiftly escorted away by police.
On the opposite side of the stadium, a smaller counter-protest supporting Israel displayed signs urging an end to antisemitism in football. Several vehicles circled the ground with digital billboards carrying messages such as “Ban hatred not fans,” and one quoting French soccer star Thierry Henry: “Football is not about goals but bringing people together.”
The match, which Aston Villa won 2-0, came under intense scrutiny after Birmingham officials decided to ban visiting Maccabi fans from attending. The move drew criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer but was defended by those citing safety concerns and past violence involving Maccabi supporters.
Police said the decision followed intelligence linked to previous incidents, including unrest during Maccabi’s Europa League game against Ajax in Amsterdam last season. In response, Maccabi Tel Aviv declined its away ticket allocation.
The ban unfolded amid growing concerns about antisemitism in Britain, heightened by a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue last month and calls from pro-Palestinian activists for a sports boycott of Israel. Despite a recent ceasefire in Gaza, tensions remain high both on and off the field.
