West Midlands Police took this approach as they made 11 arrests throughout Aston Villa’s home match with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League. Here’s how the event played out at Villa Park. These arrests were made in the context of a series of public order offences and protests focused on the escalating situation in Gaza. In anticipation of protests, authorities increased security measures, leading to a large police presence during the event.
A 63-year-old man was the oldest of those arrested. He was subsequently charged for a racially aggravated public order offence after targeting racist abuse while carrying out road rage against a driver in a huge stick near the ground. In one incident, a 21-year-old Black man was arrested for failing to take off his mask. This took place amidst an enforcement of a Section 60 order. On top of that, a 17-year-old was given a dispersal order and then refused to comply and leave the surrounding area.
Heightened Security Measures
The police deployed 700 officers from 25 different forces for the game. They brought in police horses, dogs and they even used a drone unit to maintain everyone’s safety. Fears of violent civil unrest underpinned this massive deployment and national operation. Protests at Israel’s inclusion in international football, front and centre as the violence continues in Gaza, sparked these fears.
The initial decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match was taken by authorities in light of these safety considerations. A spokesperson from Maccabi Tel Aviv expressed understanding of the reasoning behind the decision:
“The well-being and safety of our fans is paramount and, from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans, and our decision should be understood in that context.” – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Before kick-off, approximately 200 demonstrators assembled outside Villa Park’s Trinity Road stand. International demonstrators Members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, expressing their demand to see Israel banned from international football.
Activists vehicle rang five flatbed trucks past the site, showing large digital signs condemning antisemitism. Revd Tim Gutmann, present at the protest, emphasized the importance of unity:
“As a Christian it’s important for me to be here to show that we stand with our fight and stop the hate.” – Revd Tim Gutmann
Incidents of Violence and Abuse
Aside from those arrests noted above, dozens of people were charged for racially aggravated public order offences. A 34-year-old man and a 29-year-old man were each arrested for yelling anti-Semitic slurs at pro-Israel protesters. Additionally, a 67-year-old man was arrested for issuing a tirade of racist insults towards one of the cops working the event.
A 32-year-old man was charged in a separate incident for yelling racist epithets at a crowd of Palestinian supporters. One such arrest was of a 21-year-old man who tried to launch fireworks at the ground. Additionally, one person was arrested on drug possession with intent to supply.
These events set the stage for what would be a highly charged atmosphere around the match as violence broke out between several groups in attendance at Villa Park.
Community Reactions
From city leaders to soccer enthusiasts, everyone was dismayed at the horrors that played out on the pitch that night. Adam Selway, a local resident and football fan, remarked on the importance of inclusivity:
“It’s not about politics, it’s about football.” – Adam Selway
Revd Tim Gutmann spoke passionately about the need for safety and acceptance within football culture:
“It’s not the Villa fans that don’t want anyone here – the Villa fans want the away fans here.” – Adam Selway
Maccabi Tel Aviv acknowledged the efforts made by law enforcement and government officials to facilitate a safe environment for all attendees. They expressed gratitude for the support received from various sectors of society:
“These are huge moments for a nation. We cannot have no-go zones for Israeli football fans. We can’t have no-go zones for Jewish people.” – Revd Tim Gutmann
Maccabi Tel Aviv acknowledged the efforts made by law enforcement and government officials to facilitate a safe environment for all attendees. They expressed gratitude for the support received from various sectors of society:
“We acknowledge the efforts of the UK government and police to ensure both sets of fans can attend the match safely, and are grateful for the messages of support from across the footballing community and society at large.” – Maccabi Tel Aviv
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