Eleven men and boys faced arrest around Villa Park during a large police operation as Aston Villa played Maccabi Tel Aviv in a controversial Europa League match, with offenses ranging from public order to drug possession.
A massive security operation was deployed near Villa Park following a controversial Europa League face-off between Aston Villa and Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, which resulted in the arrest of eleven men and boys, according to Express & Star reporting.
The contentious fixture was met with widespread disorder, as anti-Israel protestors were spotted outside the gates bearing slogans, and groups were reported to have clashed prior to kick-off.
The police operation involved over 700 officers from across the country, supported by specialized units including police dogs, horses, and drones.
The arrests, which involved individuals as young as 17, stemmed from a variety of alleged offences, with several being detained on suspicion of racially aggravated public order crimes.
Specifically, a 63-year-old man was arrested for allegedly shouting racist abuse during a road rage incident, and a 34-year-old man was detained after allegedly shouting abuse toward pro-Israel demonstrators, also facing a separate charge for possession of Class B drugs.
Other detentions included a 21-year-old seen trying to throw fireworks into the ground, and men arrested for shouting racist abuse at a police officer and towards a pro-Palestine group, respectively.
In anticipation of potential violence, West Midlands Police had put a Section 60 (Stop and Search) order in place in the days leading up to the game, allowing officers to search individuals without the need for reasonable grounds.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson commented on the scale of the challenge:
“Our officers are being supported by officers from up and down the country as part of mutual aid. “This has definitely been one of the most contentious and controversial matches we’ve hosted for some time, but our priority, really clearly, is public safety.
“It’s about protecting the communities that live in and around Aston Villa, and reassuring those communities who are potentially affected by the match.”
The extensive police presence and Section 60 powers remained in effect until 3am the morning after the match to ensure the security of the area.