'Unprecedented' police operation for Maccabi Tel Aviv-Aston Villa

Phil Mackiemidlands correspondent and

Tania Gupta,West Midlands

Reuters Pro-Palestinian Protesters Gather Outside The Stadium Before The Match. A Man In A High-Visibility Jacket Has A Loudspeaker. The Group Carries Flags. — Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the stadium before the match.

The police operation being carried out around Aston Villa’s controversial match against Maccabi Tel Aviv is “unprecedented”, the Birmingham police commander has said.

More than 700 officers are in the city for the UEFA Europa League match, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT, along with horses, dogs, drones and police road units.

Central Committee Superintendent Tom Joyce said at least half a dozen groups were expected to protest, including pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, as well as the far right.

“We monitor football matches a lot. We monitor protests a lot. We deal with all kinds of public order scenarios, but certainly the level of interest and concern around this match is unprecedented,” he said.

Ywaaaaaaqabaaacauwaow== | Stuff Unknown — The team bus arrived a couple of hours before kickoff

Pa Media The Aston Villa Team Bus Arrives Before The Uefa Europa League Match At Villa Park, Birmingham. It'S Dark Outside And The Bus Has Its Lights On In Front Of The Illuminated Stadium. The Sign Says Aston Villa Team Manager. — The team bus arrived a couple of hours before kickoff

Outside the stadium, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered before the game, waving flags and banners calling for an end to violence in Gaza.

Five flatbed vehicles drove past the ground before the start of the Europa League match, carrying electronic signs displaying messages against anti-Semitism.

One of the messages, next to a Star of David, read “Ban hate, not fans”, while another carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying that football is not about goals but about bringing people together.

extremist fanatics

Pro-Palestinian Activists From Pa Media Organize A Demonstration In Front Of Villa Park. Many Carry Flags And Wave Them. There Is A Sign That Says — At least half a dozen groups were expected to protest.

On Thursday, the number of officers in the West Midlands force was boosted by police from 10 forces across the country.

Ch Supt Joyce said police had prepared for the possibility of people turning up looking for a fight.

“We have absolutely planned for that contingency,” he said.

“We recognize that those groups who do not commit to this are likely to appear with different motives than those who want to protest legally.

“The police operation that can be seen is partly a reflection of the need to address this.”

Pa Media A Woman Called Emily Carrying An Israeli Flag Is Led Away By Police Officers From Pro-Palestine Activists, Who Are Protesting On Trinty Road, Outside Villa Park. — Police are working to keep half a dozen groups separated.

Officers were deployed to the city center at 1:30 p.m., amid reports that some protesters arrived early.

Police are using Section 60 powers in an area stretching from Aston and Perry Barr to Birmingham New Street and the city centre, which began at midday and continued until 3am on Friday.

Before the game, those living and working in the city near Villa Park watched as shops and schools closed early.

Meanwhile, Jewish Villa fan Elliot Ludvig said he was afraid to attend the match.

Ludvig, who will attend with his son, told the BBC: “I’m worried about what’s going to happen. On the one hand, I’m worried about the potential for violence.”

“I’m concerned about several upsets we could encounter along the way, both outside and inside the stadium.”

Epa Police Officers Have Been Drawn From Forces Across The Country And Are Gathering Here Outside The Aston Villa Ground. — More than 700 police officers are in the city to attend the match, which has been generating controversy for weeks.

“Football unites us”

He said his other big emotion was “disappointment.”

“Is going to a football game worth putting myself at some kind of risk or exposing my child to all kinds of unpleasant things that you might not want?” he asked.

Among those calling for calm was a group of fans, the Punjabi Villans, who urged people to respect each other and for everyone to return home safely, posting on social media: “We are in this together. Football unites us.”

Elliot Ludvig Is Sitting At Home With A Bookshelf And Photographs Behind Him. He Is Wearing A Light Blue Shirt And His Villa Fan Shirt Is Next To Him On A Chair. He Is Looking At The Camera With A Worried Expression. — Elliot Ludvig said he was worried and disappointed.

On Wednesday night, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s chief executive said it was “incredibly sad” that his team’s fans couldn’t be there, adding: “Politics should never be dragged into football.”

The planned protests include two by Palestine supporters, who have been calling for the match to be suspended.

The BBC has also been informed that a Maccabi solidarity rally has been organized to coincide with the match.

On Monday, Naeem Malik, president of the West Midlands Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said there had been national outrage over the hosting of the Israeli team.

“Calls to cancel this match have been ignored despite the risks involved, therefore we must urge activists to unite in protest against this match,” he said.

The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Association of Great Britain, the Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Kashmir Solidarity Campaign and the Palestinian Forum in Great Britain called for the match to be cancelled, and jointly organized one of the protests.