Police keep pro-Palestinian protestors and fans apart as hostility grows outside Villa Park

VIDEO SHOWS: PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS OUTSIDE VILLA PARK STADIUM AHEAD OF ASTON VILLA'S EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURE AT HOME TO MACCABI TEL AVIV / ASTON VILLA FANS ARRIVING WITH POLICE KEEPING THE PROTESTORS AND FANS APART *EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PROFANE LANGUAGE CAN BE HEARD AT THE START OF THIS SHOT NUMBER 6 FROM THE SHOTLIST BELOW SHOWS: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS 2. PROTESTORS HOLDING UP PRO-PALESTINIAN SIGNAGE 3. VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING IN FROM OF PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS 4. POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS / ASTON VILLA FANS ARRIVING TO VILLA PARK STADIUM & CHANTING  5. FANS CHANTING TOWARDS PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS (PROFANE LANGUAGE CAN BE HEARD AT THE START OF THIS SHOT) / POLICE IN FRONT OF PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS 6. POLICE CONFRONTING A FAN WHO IS STANDING CLOSE BY ANOTHER FAN HOLDING UP A UNION JACK FLAG 7. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS CHANTING  8. POLICE FORMING A LINE AND SLOWLY FORCE THE FANS TO RETREAT  9. “421 PALESTINIAN FOOTBALLERS KILLED BY ISRAEL” BANNER AMONGST PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS 10. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAGS / POLICE OFFICERS ON HORSES MOVING PAST 11. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAGS WITH SOME HOLDING UP PRO-PALESTINIAN SIGNAGE STORY: Police formed a barrier between chanting pro-Palestinian protestors and arriving Aston Villa fans, who were also in full voice, ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Europe League fixture in Birmingham. Earlier, a pro-Israel protestor holding an Israel flag was led away by police as tensions rose outside Villa Park. British police had mounted a large operation with 700 officers to prevent trouble in the city of Birmingham. With Israeli sports teams a focus for pro-Palestinian protests during the Gaza conflict and Villa initially saying away fans would be barred on police advice, Maccabi reluctantly opted not to accept tickets for visiting supporters. West Midlands police said there would be a big police presence in the centre of Birmingham, which has a large Muslim population, and around the stadium. Police officers were seen patrolling the area outside the stadium and a small group of protesters were gathered with pro-Palestinian banners. Last November, more than 60 people were arrested in Amsterdam after clashes around a match between Maccabi and Ajax. Police said anti-Israeli gangs on scooters chased and beat Maccabi fans. Five people were treated in hospital. There has been a reported rise in antisemitism in Britain in recent years, and two Jewish worshippers died during an attack on a synagogue last month. The initial decision to bar Maccabi fans from the Villa game was opposed by the UK government, but the Israeli club anyway decided to keep its fans away given the "toxic atmosphere." (Production: Will Russell, Stefan Haskins)

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