Police officers have gathered from forces across the country, and are here assembling outside the Aston Villa ground.EPA
Phil Mackie, Midlands correspondentandTanya Gupta, West Midlands
A major police operation is under way as protests are expected ahead of the controversial Aston Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
More than 700 officers will be on the streets of Birmingham for the Uefa Europa League match, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT amid expected protests, alongside police horses, dogs, drones and roads units.
Officers were deployed to the city centre by 13:30, amid reports of some protesters arriving early.
Last month, the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the game was the focus of parliamentary-level debate and has led to MPs questioning West Midlands Police about the move.
The Israeli club later said supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.
Police are using Section 60 powers in an area stretching from Aston and Perry Barr to Birmingham New Street and the city centre, which started at midday and runs until 03:00 on Friday.
Police officers are outside Villa Park ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Birmingham.EPA/Shutterstock
Ahead of the game fan group, the Punjabi Villans, urged people to respect each other and for everyone to get home safely, posting on social media: "We're in this together. Football unites us."
Those living and working in the city near Villa Park football stadium have seen shops and schools close early.
On Wednesday night, the chief executive of Maccabi Tel Aviv said it was "incredibly sad" his side's fans could not be there, adding: "Politics should never be drawn into football."
The BBC has so far been told about two pro-Palestine protests taking place in Birmingham and a Maccabi Solidarity Rally, which has also been organised to coincide with the match.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Kashmir solidarity campaign and Palestinian Forum in Britain had called for the match to be cancelled and jointly organised one of the protests.
Get in touch
Tell us which stories we should cover in Birmingham and the Black Country
Contact form
Contact form
Follow BBC Birmingham onBBC Sounds,Facebook,X andInstagram.
Related topics
Birmingham
West Midlands Police
Fan ban 'incredibly sad' - Maccabi Tel Aviv chief
A sign reading 'Aston Villa Football Club' on the wall outside Villa Park
Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept Villa tickets
Villa Park
'Resources will be found' to police Maccabi Tel Aviv game
Lisa Nandy, with long dark hair and wearing a blue jacket, addresses the House of Comments flanked by colleagues on the green benches.
Related internet links
West Midlands Police