GB News presenter Stephen Dixon was forced to step in live on air after national reporter Will Goodley was interrupted by a protester during a broadcast.
Will was reporting from the aftermath of a pro-Palestine demonstration before the Aston Villa-Maccabi Tel Aviv football match, when someone began hassling him mid-sentence.
“Thank you, mate,” The GB News star could be heard saying as the protester approached.
Will handled the situation well and moved away from the protester who was shouting “free Palestine” at him.
Will just moved away from the interuption
|GB NEWS
However, this did not stop the campaigner, who followed him and continued to shout.
The live broadcast was then cut, and Stephen told viewers: “All right, we’re just going to leave with Will because he’s getting a little bit of a hassle from someone.
“Look, people are allowed to say what they want, the problem is if you’re broadcasting and something like that happens, it’s very difficult.”
He added: “We just don’t know what’s going to come out. We don’t want any bad language or anything.”
The GB News host said they would “touch base with Will a little bit later on”.
Last night, 11 people were arrested as more than 700 police officers were deployed for the Europa League clash amid concerns over potential disorder.
Fans on Trinity Road outside Villa Park before the UEFA Europa League match | PABirmingham’s Safety Advisory Group had announced last month that visiting fans would be barred from attending the match at Villa Park due to public safety concerns.
Outside the stadium, high-profile activists, including lawyer Akhmed Yakoob and pro-Gaza MP Ayoub Khan, who has campaigned to ban Israel from UEFA competitions, were seen leading chants.
Protesters waved Palestinian, Iraqi, and regional Pakistani flags while chanting slogans such as “Allahu Akbar” throughout the game.
Police briefly formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after an Israeli flag was waved by a passerby.
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Witnesses said the woman carrying the flag was guided into a side street and spoken to by officers before leaving the area.
Ahead of kick-off, five flatbed vehicles carrying electronic billboards displaying messages opposing antisemitism were driven past the ground.
Meanwhile, around 40 peaceful pro-Israel protesters gathered on a basketball court near Villa Park’s Doug Ellis Stand.
The group, which vowed to “keep antisemitism out of football,” listened to speakers opposing the ban on Maccabi fans attending the match.
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