Schools ‘shut early’ and ‘ring of steel’ set up before Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

A ring of steel is being erected in Birmingham today ahead of the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

More than 700 West Midlands police officers have been drafted in for the football game, with horses and dogs teams on hand.

Drones will be deployed in the sky amid warnings that the event could be targeted by extremist groups, while the airspace has been closed for any non-official aircraft.

A Section 60 – allowing officers to stop and search people without a need for ‘reasonable grounds’ – has been announced from midday today until 3am on Friday.

Birmingham police commander Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said: ‘Our message to those from all communities in Birmingham is that we have listened and will continue to engage with you.

‘We remain committed to maintaining the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

‘Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate.’

He warned people to expect a large number of uniformed officers, as well as police horses and dogs, and a drone unit.

‘Those not attending the event should expect significant disruption to the roads in the area on the evening, and we would urge people to avoid the area where possible,’ Joyce stressed.

‘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.’

The heightened measures come after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wreaked havoc in Amsterdam in November 2024 and then again caused skirmishes in Paris that same month, as reported by Metro.

Protests force school closures

A number of protests – from pro-Palestine, pro-Israel and some nationalist British supporter groups – have been announced, pushing some schools in Birmingham to close early.

BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy said it would shut at 1.15pm ahead of the politically-contentious fixture.

Meanwhile, the Academy principal confirmed in an email to parents that a number of schools in the local area are following suit, it was reported.

Campaign group Palestine Solidarity Campaign announced that it will hold a demonstration at the match to demand that Israel is excluded from international football.

They will assemble at 6pm at Aston Park Pavilion, just a short distance from Villa Park.

Publicising the demonstration, the group said: ‘Israeli football is deeply involved in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

‘The Israel Football Association, of which Maccabi Tel Aviv is a member, contains at least six clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land.

‘Maccabi Tel Aviv has itself supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza by sending care packages to serving Israeli soldiers.’

This came after Tommy Robinson urged his followers to rally against the ‘Islamist activists’ at the much-debated match and posted a photograph of himself in a Maccabi Tel Aviv football top.

Ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans

Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group announced last month that visiting fans will be barred from attending the match at Villa Park on public safety concerns.

Maccabi later said it would decline any away tickets for the clash after the UK government said it was ‘working around the clock’ to ensure fans from both sides could attend.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer called for the ban to be overturned, saying it was ‘the wrong decision’.

Middle East Eye reported that Dutch police had told their UK counterparts that some Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are ‘linked to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF)’.

Hundreds more were ‘experienced fighters’, ‘highly organised’ and ‘intent on causing serious violence’.

The Guardian also reported that the police assessment ‘concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club’.

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