Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv: Six arrests made before kick-off, police confirm
There was a large police presence outside Villa Park before kick-off.
West Midlands Police confirmed six arrests were made prior to kick-off ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park.
Three of those were arrested for “racially aggravated public order offences”, police said. A 21-year-old man was arrested for “failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask”, a 17-year-old boy for “failing to comply with a dispersal order”, while one person for “a breach of the peace”.
Tension had been building in the lead-up to the game after a blanket ban was issued meaning no Maccabi fans could attend the fixture.
More than 700 police officers lined the streets around Villa Park, while some Birmingham schools closed early on Thursday due to fear of unrest.
Anxiety had been growing among Aston residents and locals, while one Villa fan said the police presence was reminiscent of the 1970s, where he said “hooliganism was quite rife”.
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