AssetID: 55250695
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Eleven Arrested During Protests at Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Match
Caption: Eleven Arrested During Protests at Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Match. Eleven people were arrested during a tense night of protests as Aston Villa faced Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham, police confirmed. The arrests — all men or boys aged 17 to 67 — were for offences including racist abuse, failing to follow police orders, drug possession, and attempting to throw fireworks. Hundreds of extra officers were deployed around Villa Park, where large demonstrations by both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups took place before the Europa League match. Authorities had banned Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending amid security concerns, a decision upheld by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group and West Midlands Police. Despite government efforts to lift the ban, Maccabi declined any away tickets, citing ongoing tensions and safety risks. Around 200 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the stadium, calling for Israel’s exclusion from international football. Meanwhile, about 40 pro-Israel demonstrators nearby displayed banners reading “Keep antisemitism out of football” and “Ban hatred, not fans.” Revd Tim Gutmann, of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, told the crowd: “We cannot have no-go zones for Israeli fans or Jewish people. Football should bring people together.” Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Sports,Aston Villa,Maccabi Tel Aviv,Birmingham,protests,arrests,Europa League,West Midlands Police,pro-Palestine,pro-Israel,fan ban
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