More than 700 officers to police Aston Villa-Maccabi Tel Aviv match

More than 700 Officers to Police Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Match

On Thursday, over 700 police officers will be deployed to manage security during Aston Villa's UEFA Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The West Midlands Police (WMP) will use horses, dogs, drones, and road policing units to ensure public safety and address any criminal activity around the event in Birmingham.

Protests Planned

Demonstrations are expected from various groups, including supporters of Palestine calling for the match to be cancelled. Several organizations have joined forces to organize the protest, such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Kashmir Solidarity Campaign, and Palestinian Forum in Britain.

Background and Safety Measures

Last month, the decision to ban Tel Aviv fans from attending sparked a debate at the parliamentary level. The Israeli club later announced that supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.

Birmingham Police commander Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce stated:
“We know protests by different groups will take place on the day, and we have plans in place which balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.”

He also noted that officers have extensive experience managing major football matches and demonstrations. For several weeks, the police have been engaging with faith and community leaders to understand their concerns.

Summary

The police are preparing a large-scale operation to manage security and protests at the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, balancing public safety with the right to peaceful demonstration.

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BBC BBC — 2025-11-04

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