Six protesters arrested outside Villa Park as hundreds of police officers gather ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture

WATCH: Protests erupt in Villa Park ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv game |

GB NEWS

Isabelle Parkin

By Isabelle Parkin


Published: 06/11/2025

- 19:52

Updated: 06/11/2025

- 21:23

More than 700 officers are on duty for the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv

Six people have been arrested as hundreds of protesters gathered in Birmingham ahead of tonight's Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

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


Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order.

Three other people were arrested for racially aggravated public order offences and another person was arrested for breach of the peace.

Protests outside Villa Park

Six people have been arrested amid protests outside Villa Park

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PA


More than 700 police officers are on duty for the Europa League clash, after concerns were sparked of potential disorder.

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

A group of around 40 protesters, one carrying an Israeli flag and others carrying posters saying "keep antisemitism out of football", gathered on a basketball court close to the stadium's 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".

Villa Park protest

Police briefly formed a cordon after an Israel flag was waved during the protests

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PA

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."

Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel were also placed on the ground near Villa Park, amid pro-Gaza chants.

Police officers briefly formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after an Israeli flag was waved by a passer-by.


Witnesses said the woman was ushered into a side street and spoken to by police before leaving the area.

Five flatbed vehicles were driven past the ground prior to kick-off of the match, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing antisemitism.

One of the messages, beside a Star of David, said "ban hatred not fans", while another carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying football is not about goals but bringing people together.

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.

Man selling scarves outside Villa Park

Half-and-half scarves in the colours of Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv were on sale outside the stadium

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PA

He said: "It’s not about politics, it’s about football.

“It’s not the Villa fans that don’t want anyone here – the Villa fans want the away fans here."

Maccabi Tel Aviv had already announced that it would decline any away tickets for the clash after Sir Keir Starmer's Government said it was "working around the clock" to ensure fans from both sides could attend.

The Prime Minister had called for the ban on away fans to be overturned, saying it was "the wrong decision".

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