Six arrested during protests outside match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv

"A Section 60 was also in place in parts of Birmingham, allowing officers to stop and search without the need to have reasonable grounds. West Midlands police said three people were arrested for racially aggravated offences and one for a breach of the peace. A man, 21, was also arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask and a teenage boy, 17, for failing to comply with a dispersal order."

"Signs were also put up around the stadium which read: No war games allowed. Zionists not welcome. In videos posted online, protesters are heard chanting: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free and Death to the IDF. The Guardian also overheard an officer discussing the presence of members of the far-right and saw people swearing and gesturing at pro-Palestine demonstrators. Usman Rafiq, a 43-year-old GP and his wife, Uma Hani, a 40-year-old dentist, attended the protest with their"

"A large Pro-Palestine demonstration took place in the shadow of Aston Villa's stadium, with protesters calling for the match to be cancelled and for Israeli teams to be banned from international football. A smaller counter-demonstration took place at the away end of the stadium to oppose the ban and to stand in solidarity with Maccabi fans. As they made their way to the stadium, officers directed them to hold their protest in a caged basketball court. More than 700 police officers were in attendance,"

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned on safety grounds from attending a Europa League match at Villa Park, prompting large pro-Palestine protests and a smaller counter-demonstration. Protesters demanded the match be cancelled and called for Israeli teams to be banned from international football. Officers directed counter-demonstrators to hold their protest in a caged basketball court. More than 700 police officers attended, supported by dogs, horses and a drone unit, and a Section 60 allowed stop-and-search without reasonable grounds. Police reported arrests for racially aggravated offences, breach of the peace, refusal to remove a face mask, and failure to comply with a dispersal order. Signs and chants included "No war games allowed", "Zionists not welcome", and "From the river to the sea".

Read at www.theguardian.com