British police have more than 700 officers in Birmingham. Birmingham is set to host Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League, with local soccer club Aston Villa at home, three weeks after the hosts decided to ban traveling supporters from attending matches due to threats of violence.
The group stage match between Villa and Maccabi in the European second division competition is scheduled to kick off at 8pm Japan time on Thursday, with heavy police presence expected around the stadium, city center and surrounding areas.
“We are aware that there will be protests by a variety of groups on the day and our plans balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham,” West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said on the morning of the match.
“We would urge anyone not attending the event to avoid the area if possible as we expect significant disruption to roads in the area in the evening.”
Various pro-Palestinian groups, including Game Over Israel, Hind Rajab Foundation and Health Workers 4 Palestine, plan to oppose the club’s visit in the wake of Israel’s massacre in Gaza, which killed at least 68,875 Palestinians.
Palestinian flags and banners calling for Israel’s exclusion from FIFA have been hoisted on a bridge above the main road connecting Aston to the center of Birmingham.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans from attending matches was announced by Villa on October 16 after West Midlands Police raised security concerns about potential protests.
They judged the match at Villa Park to be high risk, citing violence and hate crimes that occurred last season when Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in Amsterdam. More than 60 people were arrested as a result of the clashes.
The move also comes after protests erupted during Israel’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy in October, and police used tear gas against protesters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Oslo and Udine.
Villa said they were following the instructions of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which is responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.
“West Midlands Police have advised SAG that there are security concerns outside Stadium Bowl and that they have the capacity to deal with any possible protests that may occur that night,” the club said in a statement.
A major security operation will be in place this Thursday as Aston Villa take on Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park.
Learn more about what we’re doing to keep you safe 👉 https://t.co/5UiRo7FGPU pic.twitter.com/tPYQqB21g1
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) November 3, 2025
“Recipes for disasters”
Soccer expert Nicholas Blincoe believes the threat of violence also stems from Maccabi fans’ “racist” history.
“These (Maccabi) ultras are becoming increasingly right-wing nationalist and overtly racist,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Their chants are horrifying: death chants for Arabs, death chants for Palestinian children.”
According to the anti-racism group Kick Racism Out of Football, he called Maccabi a “proudly racist football team” that had left fellow Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem behind.
Blincoe, author of “More Noble Than War: A Soccer History of Israel Palestine,” explained that hosting Maccabi fans would pose some logistical problems for local authorities, as fans would not fly directly from Israel to Birmingham.
After arriving in London from Israel, fans will have to take a train to Birmingham and then on to Aston Villa.
“This was an absolute recipe for disaster,” Blincoe said.
“They have no control over 190 miles (305 kilometers) of track. The situation is very unpredictable and could lead to days of violence, similar to what we saw in Amsterdam. That’s why the police were on high alert.”
The ban drew widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it was the wrong decision, but Blincoe said Starmer’s decision to enter into the debate was “inexplicable”.
Early last month, Aston Villa asked supporters not to display political symbols, messages or flags during matches.
The club warned fans not to violate rules issued by European football governing body UEFA, which prohibit the posting of political messages inside stadiums.
UEFA said in a statement: “In accordance with UEFA guidance, displaying political symbols, messages or flags during matches is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate dismissal and banning from entering the stadium.”
