Police conflict with protestors at Villa Park forward of Maccabi Tel Aviv match
Protesters have clashed with police as they tried to storm Villa Park ahead of Aston Villa’s politically-charged Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. A small group of protesters appeared to try to get into the main entrance of the stadium around 25 minutes before kick off.
Cops rushed to the stadium entrance to move the protesters away amid chaotic scenes as supporters tried to get into the stands. Police officers were seen pushing people away to separate groups of Villa fans and pro-Palestine protestors outside the stadium.
It comes as West Midlands Police said six people have been prior to kick off, including a teenage boy.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order, the force said. A 21-year-old has been arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask.
(Image: Sky News)
Three people have been arrested for racially aggravated public order offences and one person for a breach of the peace, a spokesman added in an update.
More than 700 police officers are on duty for the game amid concerns over potential disorder. It comes after West Midlands Police banned visiting fans from the game, sparking a huge political row. Sir Keir Starmer called on the force to reverse the ban.
But Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce told Sky News that “significant levels of hooliganism” in the club’s fan base was deemed to jeopardise the safety around the match, rather than threats to visiting Israelis.
(Image: Getty Images)
But tensions were high ahead of the match and protesters and counter-protests took place outside the stadium. Around 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered near a children’s playpark adjacent to the Trinity Road stand.
Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel had also been placed on the ground beside Trinity Road amid pro-Gaza chants.
Police officers briefly formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after an Israeli flag was reportedly waved by a passer-by. Witnesses said the woman was ushered into a side street and spoken to by police before leaving the area.
(Image: PA)
Meanwhile, around 40 protesters, one carrying an Israeli flag, and others carrying posters saying “keep antisemitism out of football” gathered on a basketball court on Witton Lane, close to the 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.”
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.
(Image: Getty Images)
“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.”
Earlier, five flatbed vehicles were driven past the ground, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing antisemitism.
One of the messages, beside a Star of David, read “Ban hatred not fans” while another carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying football is not about goals but bringing people together.
(Image: PA)
Villa supporter Adam Selway, 48, arrived for the match wearing a half-and-half scarf in the colours of the home side and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He said he was not making any political statement, but felt sympathy with fans unable to attend and simply wanted to watch a football match.
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.” The game kicked off as scheduled at 8pm.
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