Aston Villa fan spends six years building Subbuteo inspired replica of Villa Park
There will be a heavy police presence in Aston for the game tonight
Local campaign groups are expected to protest outside Villa Park and in the community ahead of the match.
Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv have been banned from attending the fixture by the force due to safety concerns. West Midlands Police have classed the fixture as ‘high risk’ after a ‘thorough assessment’.
Local authorities had ruled that away fans could not attend the Europa League match at Villa Park, with the Israeli club also announcing that they would refuse any ticket allocation for their travelling fans in any case
The decision was taken due to potential protests in the city relating to the Israel and Gaza war.
Groups including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition and Muslim Association of Britain are now reportedly are set to protest against the fixture going ahead, although Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have not being allowed to buy tickets.
A number of schools in the local area are also expected to close early to ensure pupils can get home safely.
West Midlands Police will now be using Section 60 powers in parts of Birmingham tonight as part of their operation to keep people safe.
The force will have more than 700 officers around the stadium, with the section 60 powers in place in the area on the map, from 12pm tomorrow until 3am Friday (November 7).
WMP statement
Ch Supt Tom Joyce from West Midlands Police, said: “Our message to those from all communities in Birmingham is that we have listened and will continue to engage with you.
“We remain committed to maintaining the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
“Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate.“We have been working closely with partners including Birmingham City Council, Aston Villa Football Club, our colleagues in other emergency services, as we put in place our significant policing operation.
“People can expect to see a large number of uniformed officers, as well as police horses, police dogs, our drone unit, road policing unit, protest liaison officers and others. People not attending the event should expect significant disruption to the roads in the area on the evening, and we’d urge people to avoid the area where possible.
“We know protests by different groups will take place on the day, and we have plans in place which balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.”
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