The combined Maccabi thread - now with are you going? poll

[The Edge]

Drove past Villa Park earlier and there's been a marked rise in Union and St George's flags on lamposts. Load's more around the stadium too. A load of Palestine flags have been put up on the lamposts on the park side of Trinity Rd. Seems the sabre rattling has begun early.

[PeterWithesShin]

When was the last time there was a game in this country with this much political scrutiny plus all the noise around the game?

[luke95]

At least the local MP has been out & about appealing for carm from the locals

[London Villan]

The one meet up for the protests is in Aston Park. Might affect parking at the school.

[Chip Butty 111]

Drove past Villa Park earlier and there's been a marked rise in Union and St George's flags on lamposts. Load's more around the stadium too. A load of Palestine flags have been put up on the lamposts on the park side of Trinity Rd. Seems the sabre rattling has begun early.

Take them all down and replace them with Villa flags ...

[DB]

The one meet up for the protests is in Aston Park. Might affect parking at the school.

Really? Great, that's where I park.

[Pete3206]

Drove past Villa Park earlier and there's been a marked rise in Union and St George's flags on lamposts. Load's more around the stadium too. A load of Palestine flags have been put up on the lamposts on the park side of Trinity Rd. Seems the sabre rattling has begun early.

Those flags have been up for weeks.

[The Edge]

Drove past Villa Park earlier and there's been a marked rise in Union and St George's flags on lamposts. Load's more around the stadium too. A load of Palestine flags have been put up on the lamposts on the park side of Trinity Rd. Seems the sabre rattling has begun early.

Those flags have been up for weeks.

There's loads more today. That's my point.

[Pete3206]

Fair enough mate.

[Ducksworthy]

This is the official Police Briefing on the match…

West Midlands Police Briefing – Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Thursday 6 November, 8:00pm)
Monday 3rd November 2025
1. Overview
• The UEFA Europa League fixture between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv will take place at
Villa Park on Thursday 6 November at 8:00pm.
• The Security Advisory Group (SAG) reviewed its original decision regarding the attendance of
Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and has upheld the ban on away fans.
• This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent
clashes and hate crimes during the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam in 2024.
• The assessed risk remains high if away supporters were to travel to Birmingham.
• It was raised during the meeting that the initial statement issued by the SAG was vague and
open to interpretation, which led to misunderstanding and criticism directed towards the
Muslim community by sections of the media and some politicians.
• Attendees emphasised the need for clearer and more transparent communication from
authorities when such high-profile decisions are made, particularly to ensure public
understanding and community confidence.
2. Policing Approach
• West Midlands Police (WMP) reiterated their commitment to fair, balanced and impartial
policing, ensuring both the right to protest and the safety of the public.
• WMP has extensive experience managing high-risk football fixtures and large-scale public
events, though this match presents unique challenges.
• A major policing operation will be in place, with over 700 officers deployed.
• A visible police presence will also be maintained throughout the day in and around the Aston
area ahead of the match.
3. Protest Activity
• Police are anticipating five separate protest groups in Birmingham on the day of the match:
• Three pro-Palestine groups
• Two pro-Israel / pro–Maccabi Tel Aviv counter-protest groups
• Four of these groups have been in liaison with WMP.
• While pro-Palestine demonstrations in the region have historically been well-organised and
peaceful, this will be the first occasion involving active counter-protests.
• Although Tommy Robinson has confirmed he will not attend and there is no current
intelligence of far-right mobilisation, police are prepared for this contingency.
4. Match Day Operations
• Villa Park is expected to be at near full capacity (approx. 40,000 attendees), adding to the
usual match-day congestion.
• Those without an essential reason to be in the area are advised to avoid the vicinity to
support public safety and police operations.
• Officers will be drawn from across the country; not all will be local to Birmingham. Staff and
residents are asked to be patient and cooperate with officers, who may be directed to
restrict access points or control movement due to protests or safety measures.
5. Police Powers and Measures
• A Section 60 search authority is likely to be implemented, allowing officers to stop and
search individuals within a defined area and timeframe.
• Under these powers, individuals may also be required to remove face coverings.
• There are no plans to deploy live facial recognition technology during this operation.
• Traffic restrictions are expected to begin from 6:00pm onwards, though earlier closures may
be introduced if large groups gather or incidents occur requiring emergency measures.
6. Oversight and Communication
• Independent observers will be present in the control room to monitor and ensure fair,
proportionate policing.
• All observations and feedback will be shared with their respective communities and directly
with WMP.
• To help counter misinformation, WMP will establish a direct line of communication with
selected community representatives to share verified updates quickly and directly.
7. Key Messages
• West Midlands Police remain focused on maintaining public safety, community confidence,
and operational fairness.
• The cooperation of local communities, partners and event stakeholders is essential to ensure
a safe and peaceful event.

Makes you realise the line between chaos and order is actually very slight but good communication and community policing can be the difference. Here’s hoping it all goes okay.

[TonyD]

The police reckon 40,000.
Someone is going to be wrong. 

[Meanwood Villa]

The police reckon 40,000.
Someone is going to be wrong. 

If the crowd is 40k or above, I'll buy you a pint every day for the rest of the season.

[Chip Butty 111]

The police reckon 40,000.
Someone is going to be wrong.

It'll be the Police, unless WMP buy all the unsold tickets...

[Louzie0]

The police reckon 40,000.
Someone is going to be wrong. 

If the crowd is 40k or above, I'll buy you a pint every day for the rest of the season.

If it’s 40k or above, I’m going to do well in Guess The Crowd!
So will Legion and Towser, so far!
Still 2 days to guess 😃

[dave.woodhall]

Wonder if WMP are hoping for some pretty atrocious weather from 5pm onwards  to dampen the ardour of protestors on either side of the argument.

Nothing like a 2 hour downpour to put people off.

Saw it on some show, the cops call the welcome dampening of spirits from bad weather as "PC Rain"...

"The best copper in the world."