11 Arrested at Protests Against Israeli Football Team

Police forces deployed more than 700 officers around Villa Park stadium amid concerns about clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups.

Although tensions were high before the match, no serious incidents took place.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 6: Muslim men perform their evening prayers in front of Villa Park ahead of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Stage MD4 match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC at Villa Park on November 6, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

A pro-Palestinian demonstration took place outside the stadium before kickoff, where hundreds of people came with Palestinian flags and anti-Israeli banners.

There was a flashpoint when a woman holding an Israeli flag walked past, but she was quickly escorted away by police before the situation escalated.

There was also an anti-Israel demonstration on the other side of Villa Park, with demonstrators holding signs reading “Keep anti-Semitism out of football.” Five vehicles drove by with electronic billboards displaying messages opposing anti-Semitism.

One of the messages, next to a Star of David, read “Ban hate, not fans”, while another contained a quote from French football legend Thierry Henry saying football is not about goals but about bringing people together.

LONDON, UK – 06/11/2025: Mounted police officers guarded Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, separating pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups. Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups protested as Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv took on Aston Villa in a Europa League showdown. Maccabi fans were banned from the match over security concerns as 700 police patrolled the controversial event. Final match score: Aston Villa 2 | Maccabi Tel Aviv 0. (Photo by Lab Ky Mo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The match, which Aston Villa won 2-0, was under the spotlight after authorities in Birmingham decided last month to ban visiting supporters from attending. The decision was widely criticized, including by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but praised by others, who said Maccabi fans had a recent history of violence.

West Midlands Police said it had considered the match to be high risk “based on current intelligence and previous incidents”, including violence and hate crimes which took place when Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in Amsterdam last season.

Following the furor, Maccabi announced it would refuse all away tickets for the clash,

The ban comes at a time of growing concerns about anti-Semitism in Britain, following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue last month and calls from Palestinians and their supporters for a sporting boycott of Israel because of the war against Hamas in Gaza. Hopes that the recent ceasefire will ease tensions seem premature.