Eleven arrests after pro-Palestine protest exterior Aston Villa-Maccabi Tel Aviv match | EUROtoday

At least 11 individuals had been arrested as a sequence of verbal clashes broke out throughout a pro-Palestine protest exterior Aston Villa’s controversial Europa League match in opposition to Israeli aspect Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of protesters gathered exterior Villa Park forward of Thursday night time’s tie, which befell with out visiting followers after Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group raised public security considerations.

The demonstrators, together with members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered exterior the stadium’s Trinity Road Stand, with a stage arrange for audio system to steer chants in opposition to the IDF and in assist of Palestinians.

They demanded Israel’s home soccer groups be excluded from UEFA competitions.

But regardless of requires a peaceable protest, simply earlier than the sport began at 8pm there have been a number of verbal clashes between individuals exterior the stadium and people collaborating within the demonstration.

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With greater than 700 officers on obligation as a part of the key operation, West Midlands Police shortly intervened in every face-off, shifting teams of individuals alongside and pushing the protesters away from stadium entrances.

The ambiance calmed after the sport began, however at half-time, with Villa followers popping out into the concourse, some confronted the protesters by means of a steel fence.

Police once more shortly moved the teams aside, earlier than later making certain supporters and remaining demonstrators, who determined to remain on after the protest was known as to an finish at 8.30pm, had been saved separated on the finish of the match.

The power stated a 21-year-old man was arrested for failing to adjust to an order to take away a face masks, whereas one other 21-year-old was arrested after attempting to throw fireworks into the bottom. A 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to adjust to a dispersal order and a person was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to provide medicine.

Five males had been arrested for racially aggravated public order offences, one for breach of the peace. A 17-year-old boy was arrested after being issued with a dispersal order however refusing to go away the world.

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Protest steward Naveed Sadiq stated: “It’s unfortunate there were some skirmishes, but when you have a protest of this size, and so many people attending the game, I’m afraid you get the minority and these things happen.

“Overall, I’m pleased with how the protest has gone. I feel like we got our show of support for Palestine across tonight, while pushing our point that Maccabi Tel Aviv should not be in this competition, given what’s happened in Gaza.”

Ali Abbas, of the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity group, stated: “The game should have been cancelled to begin with, and then there would not have been this situation. You have seen here the strength of feeling against it here locally tonight.”

Many individuals attending the protest waved Palestine flags and brandished placards, some saying “stop arming Israel” and “stop starving Gaza”.

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Among these talking was Perry Barr unbiased MP Ayoub Khan, who claimed Israeli groups ought to face an identical ban in European competitions to the one handed down by Uefa to Russian golf equipment following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

“When you see the images of children being massacred, when you understand that more than 800 athletes have been killed in Gaza… then you will understand the moral argument,” he advised protesters.

Five flatbed automobiles had been pushed previous the bottom previous to kick-off, carrying digital billboards exhibiting messages opposing antisemitism.

One of the messages, beside a Star of David, learn “Ban hatred not fans”, whereas one other carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying soccer is just not about targets however about bringing individuals collectively.

Around 40 protesters, one carrying an Israeli flag, and others carrying posters saying “Keep antisemitism out of football”, gathered on a basketball court docket on Witton Lane, near the Doug Ellis Stand, to listen to varied audio system oppose the ban on Maccabi followers.

One Villa supporter, Adam Selway, stated whereas he was not making any political assertion, he felt sympathy with followers unable to attend and easily needed to look at a soccer match.

“It’s not about politics, it’s about football,” he stated. “It’s not the Villa fans that don’t want anyone here – the Villa fans want the away fans here.”

Maccabi introduced it will decline any away tickets for the match after the federal government stated it was “working around the clock” to make sure followers from either side may attend.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had known as for the ban on away followers to be overturned, saying it was “the wrong decision”.