Overview
- Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group upheld a ban on visiting supporters, and Maccabi Tel Aviv declined any allocation citing a “toxic atmosphere.”
- More than 700 officers, with horses, dogs and a drone unit, are deployed around Villa Park, with Section 60 stop-and-search powers in place.
- The Palestine Solidarity Campaign scheduled a 6pm protest near the ground, and anti-Israel signs and flags were visible around the stadium hours before kick-off.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the away-fan ban the wrong decision as the government pressed for options to allow attendance.
- Local disruption includes reports of early school closures and enhanced ticket checks, while the 8pm match is televised on TNT Sports via discovery+.