"West Midlands Police, which has deployed more than 700 officers, said 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."
"One of the messages, beside a Star of David, read "Ban hatred not fans" while another carried a quote from French soccer legend Thierry Henry saying football is not about goals but bringing people together."
"The ban came at a time of heightened worries about antisemitism in Britain following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this month and calls from Palestinians and their supporters for a sports boycott of Israel over the war against Hamas in Gaza."
Six people were arrested ahead of Aston Villa's Europa League match with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Birmingham. West Midlands Police deployed more than 700 officers and recorded arrests for failure to remove a face mask, failure to comply with a dispersal order, racially aggravated public order offences, and breach of the peace. Around 200 protesters, including Palestine Solidarity Campaign members, gathered with Palestinian flags, banners calling for a boycott of Israel and pro-Gaza chants. Police formed a cordon after an Israeli flag was waved. Vehicles displayed electronic billboards opposing antisemitism. Visiting Maccabi fans were banned and chose not to travel amid heightened antisemitism concerns and calls for a sports boycott.
Read at ESPN.com
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