Anti-Israeli Protests Sweep Birmingham Ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv Match

Eleven men and boys, aged 17 to 67, were arrested by West Midlands Police during demonstrations outside Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday evening, ahead of the politically charged Europa League match between Aston Villa and the Israeli regime’s team, Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The protests, involving pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, came amid outrage over the regime’s assault on Gaza.

Despite the heightened tensions, the match went ahead without major incidents.

Aston Villa won 2–0 under heavy security, with more than 700 officers deployed from across the United Kingdom, backed by horses, dogs, drones, and road units.

Police said most arrests were for racially aggravated public offences.

Others included a 21-year-old accused of attempting to hurl fireworks into the stadium and another detained on suspicion of drug possession with intent to supply.

A 17-year-old was arrested for defying a dispersal order, while one man refused to remove a face covering when ordered.

The stands were half-empty, reflecting the tension and anger surrounding the game.

Authorities had already barred Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending, following a decision by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group based on police intelligence.

Sky News reported that the ban was driven by “significant levels of hooliganism” among Maccabi supporters — not by alleged threats to Israelis.

Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce confirmed the decision stemmed from intelligence on “a section of Maccabi fans who engage in quite significant levels of hooliganism.”

Fan bans are rare in European football but have become increasingly associated with Maccabi Tel Aviv, whose supporters have drawn scrutiny for extremist and racist behavior amid the Israeli regime’s Gaza offensive.

Last season, violent clashes erupted in Amsterdam between Maccabi fans and locals during a Europa League match against Ajax, leaving over 60 arrested and five injured.

While police said anti-Israeli gangs were involved, verified Reuters footage showed Maccabi fans chanting anti-Arab slurs, burning a Palestinian flag, and vandalizing property.

Amsterdam’s mayor later vowed never to host the team again.

Football analyst Nicholas Blincoe said unrest in Birmingham was fueled by the “racist and ultranationalist” conduct of Maccabi’s hardcore fan base.

“These Maccabi ultras have become increasingly right-wing, nationalistic, and explicitly racist,” Blincoe told Al Jazeera.