More than 700 police officers – including mounted units, dog handlers, and a drone unit – will be deployed on Thursday around Villa Park in Birmingham ahead of the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
West Midlands Police have classified the match as “high risk” due to several planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the vicinity. Police commander Tom Joyce said, “We know protests by different groups will take place on the day, and we have plans in place which balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.”
According to a BBC report, a temporary flight restriction will also be enforced over the stadium area.
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Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters will not attend Thursday’s match after Aston Villa decided last month to bar Israeli fans from entering the stadium. Although U.K. government ministers later said they would review the issue, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced it would not sell tickets to its fans. At the beginning of November, Aston Villa confirmed that the game would be held without away supporters.
Local police said the decision was based on “recent intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crimes during the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam in 2024.”
Maccabi coach Žarko Lazetić expressed disappointment at a press conference on Wednesday, saying he was “sad that our fans can’t be here.” Whether the decision was fair, he said,”I’m not the one to judge about that. But on the pitch, it’s 11 against 11 and we will try to do our best.”
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Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Žarko Lazetić, on Wednesday. Credit: Jacob King/AP
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Žarko Lazetić, on Wednesday. Credit: Jacob King/AP
Aston Villa asked journalists not to question head coach Unai Emery on non-football topics. Emery said ahead of the game that his focus remains solely on football: “It’s Europe, and we are playing in Europe against very good teams. Firstly, it’s about our respect for the Europa League, for the competition. Secondly, it’s about our respect for Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
Thousands of tickets for the match remain unsold. Villa announced that only supporters with a prior purchase history from last season will be eligible to buy tickets, to minimize risks.
Simon, a Villa fan, told the BBC: “I don’t feel like I would be unsafe going to the game, but I can understand there will be a lot of people who feel like that. I do worry that there will be trouble.”
According to the BBC, police will check fans’ tickets en route to the stadium, and stewards working at Villa Park were told they could opt out of their shifts if they “have concerns.”
ESPN reported that U.K. police will invoke Section 60 powers, allowing officers to conduct stop-and-search checks without reasonable suspicion.