More than 700 officers to police Villa-Maccabi match

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Reuters A blue Aston Villa flag is waved inside the stadium before a match. It says Up the Villa on it in maroon writing. Fans can be seen in grandstands around the pitch. Reuters

Last month, away fans were banned from the match, which had prompted a debate in parliament

Warnings of disruption and protests have come from police as more than 700 officers prepare to mount an operation in Birmingham for Aston Villa's Uefa Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Officers will be keeping the public safe and to tackle any crime and disorder on Thursday, West Midlands Police said, with police horses, dogs, the force's drone unit, and road policing officers out in the city.

Planned protests include one by supporters of Palestine, who want the match to be called off.

Last month, a decision to ban Tel Aviv fans from the event became the focus of parliamentary-level debate. The Israeli club later said supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Kashmir solidarity campaign and Palestinian Forum in Britain have called for the match to be cancelled and jointly organised the protest.

'Maintaining peace'

Birmingham Police commander Ch Supt Tom Joyce, said: "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."

Mr Joyce said officers were experienced at policing high-profile football matches and demonstrations, and for many weeks had been working closely with different faith and local community groups to listen to their views and concerns.

He said: "Our goal throughout planning for this match is to ensure people can enjoy the football fixture while we continue to keep everyone in Birmingham safe."

He said this included facilitating peaceful protest and maintaining peace.

AFP via Getty Images Fans of Maccabi-Tel Aviv hold club flags as they sing out in support of their club, as other fans are gathered behind them, in an Amsterdam square. AFP via Getty Images

Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans in Amsterdam, last November

Naeem Malik, chair of West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said there had been national outrage over the hosting of the Israeli team.

"The calls to cancel this match have been ignored despite the risks that it carries, therefore we must urge activists to unite in protest against this match," he said.

He claimed the Israeli side had been "directly involved in Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza", because the club was involved in Israel's infrastructure in the occupied West Bank.

In September, a UN commission of inquiry said Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza with reasonable grounds to conclude four out of five genocidal acts had been carried out - a claim rejected by Israel's foreign ministry.

The pro-Palestine protest will go on for the duration of the match, with groups coming together in peaceful chants, Mr Malik said.

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