Over 700 Police Officers Deployed for Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League Match

UK Monday, 3 November 2025 | Birmingham, UK

More than 700 police officers will be deployed for Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, West Midlands Police have confirmed.

Police horses, dogs, and a drone unit will form part of the large-scale security operation as demonstrations from different groups are expected to take place on matchday.

Birmingham Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce, said the plans were designed to “balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.”

The heightened security follows last month’s announcement by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) that visiting fans would be barred from attending the game at Villa Park due to public safety concerns.

The decision sparked widespread criticism, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy both calling the move “wrong.”

In response, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced it would not accept any away ticket allocation, despite the UK government’s assurance that it was “working around the clock” to ensure fans from both sides could attend safely.

West Midlands Police said there would be a “large number of uniformed officers” at Villa Park, describing it as a “significant policing operation.”

The force confirmed that contingency plans have been established to manage any protests or public order issues that might arise before, during, or after the match.