Tight UK Security Ahead of Birmingham Match Featuring Israeli Club
Over 700 police officers were deployed across Birmingham on Thursday as protests were expected during the Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa. Visiting Israeli supporters were not permitted to attend the game.
The UK government had previously promised to reverse the ban on Maccabi fans after facing criticism from police and local safety officials. However, the Israeli club later decided to reject ticket allocations, citing safety concerns.
Aston Villa confirmed that tickets would not be sold for the away section at Villa Park. Birmingham, the United Kingdom’s second-largest city, has witnessed repeated pro-Palestinian demonstrations during the past two years.
Planned Demonstrations
Police noted that several groups had announced protests near Villa Park on Thursday evening. One pro-Palestinian rally aimed to call for Israel’s exclusion from international football, while supporters of Israel arranged a parallel Maccabi Solidarity Rally.
Both demonstrations were scheduled to start around 6:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), roughly two hours before kickoff, under a significant police presence.
Background and Context
- The Europa League match took place in a city with a large Muslim community.
- Authorities took heightened security measures to avoid potential clashes between the opposing groups.
Author’s summary: Security in Birmingham was intensified as police managed parallel pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli rallies before Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League match against Aston Villa.
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