Overview
- West Midlands Police are deploying more than 700 officers, with horses, dogs and a drone unit, and have activated Section 60 powers from midday Thursday to 3am Friday.
- A temporary flight restriction is in place over Villa Park as authorities enforce multiple ticket checks and bolster patrols at Aston and Witton train stations.
- Pro-Palestinian groups plan a 6pm protest at Aston Park Pavilion, while the group Our Fight has scheduled a pro-Israel rally opposite the Doug Ellis Stand, with several demonstrations expected.
- The away section will be empty after Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group barred visiting supporters and Maccabi Tel Aviv declined any ticket allocation; Villa limited sales to fans with prior purchase history.
- Local disruption includes early closures at BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy and Mansfield Primary Academy, as political criticism of the ban continues from figures including Prime Minister Keir Starmer.