ELEVEN people were arrested ahead of Aston Villa's Europa League match with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.
[More than 700 police officers were on duty for the European football clash](https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25601740.aston-villa-v-maccabi-tel-aviv-700-officers-deployed/?ref=ed_direct) yesterday evening (Thursday, November 6), amid concerns over potential disorder after visiting fans were barred from attending due to public safety concerns.
[Police officers from West Mercia were also drafted in to support the increased police presence in Birmingham.](https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25601818.aston-villa-vs-maccabi-tel-aviv-west-mercia-support/?ref=ed_direct)
Around 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, also gathered near Villa Park's Trinity Road Stand ahead of kick-off, demanding Israel be excluded from international football competition.
West Midlands Police confirmed a 21-year-old man was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, while a 17-year-old boy was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order.
Five other people were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences in the area and another person was arrested for breach of the peace.
Elsewhere, a 21-year-old was arrested after allegedly trying to throw fireworks into the ground, while a man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.
The force later confirmed that powers allowing officers to stop and search people without the need for reasonable grounds remained in place until 3am today (Friday, November 7) in Birmingham.
Maccabi announced they would decline any away tickets for the clash after the Government said it was “working around the clock” to ensure fans from both sides could attend.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had called for the ban on away fans to be overturned, saying it was “the wrong decision."