Aston residents are bracing themselves for a volatile evening as Aston Villa takes on Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League. The atmosphere around the stadium is tense, with many locals expressing anxiety about the potential for clashes between fans.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans from attending the match has sparked controversy and protests, with some groups displaying Palestinian flags in support of Palestine and calling for Israel's suspension from Uefa and Fifa. For some residents like Abul Lase, who owns an accountancy firm near the stadium, the situation is a source of concern.
"We're seeing a lot of anxiousness around here," Lase said. "For me, I don't want [the match] to happen. But local people don't want it to happen – a lot of them because [of what is happening in] Palestine right now. You probably see a lot of Palestine flags here, so you see the feelings for it."
However, not everyone shares Lase's concerns. Some residents like Afsar Miah believe that the Maccabi fans had caused "trouble" in other countries and that the match should be cancelled due to "social issues."
Despite the tensions, police are preparing for a high-risk fixture with over 700 officers deployed, along with police horses, dogs, and a drone unit. West Midlands police have warned of violent clashes and hate crimes, citing incidents from previous matches between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The opposition to the ban has been vocal, with Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch criticising the decision as "wrong" and "a national disgrace." A petition to overturn the ban, backed by an Israel education organisation, has gathered over 17,000 signatures.
As the match approaches, many residents are concerned about the potential for violence and disorder. Some have expressed fears that the situation may be "worse this time," while others are more optimistic that police can maintain order.
Ultimately, the outcome of the evening will depend on how events unfold in the stadium and surrounding streets. With tensions running high, it's likely to be a volatile and potentially explosive night for Aston Villa fans and local residents alike.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans from attending the match has sparked controversy and protests, with some groups displaying Palestinian flags in support of Palestine and calling for Israel's suspension from Uefa and Fifa. For some residents like Abul Lase, who owns an accountancy firm near the stadium, the situation is a source of concern.
"We're seeing a lot of anxiousness around here," Lase said. "For me, I don't want [the match] to happen. But local people don't want it to happen – a lot of them because [of what is happening in] Palestine right now. You probably see a lot of Palestine flags here, so you see the feelings for it."
However, not everyone shares Lase's concerns. Some residents like Afsar Miah believe that the Maccabi fans had caused "trouble" in other countries and that the match should be cancelled due to "social issues."
Despite the tensions, police are preparing for a high-risk fixture with over 700 officers deployed, along with police horses, dogs, and a drone unit. West Midlands police have warned of violent clashes and hate crimes, citing incidents from previous matches between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The opposition to the ban has been vocal, with Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch criticising the decision as "wrong" and "a national disgrace." A petition to overturn the ban, backed by an Israel education organisation, has gathered over 17,000 signatures.
As the match approaches, many residents are concerned about the potential for violence and disorder. Some have expressed fears that the situation may be "worse this time," while others are more optimistic that police can maintain order.
Ultimately, the outcome of the evening will depend on how events unfold in the stadium and surrounding streets. With tensions running high, it's likely to be a volatile and potentially explosive night for Aston Villa fans and local residents alike.
. First, they ban Maccabi fans from the match, then suddenly there are protests and Palestine flags everywhere? It's like they're trying to stir up trouble on purpose! And don't even get me started on the police being all high-risk and whatnot... sounds like a setup for something big 
. I mean, I'm not saying it'll be a disaster or anything, but you can't help but wonder if there's more to this than meets the eye 
. And have you seen that petition? Over 17,000 signatures already? That's some serious momentum... but what are they really fighting for? 
. As a student, I feel like we should be more focused on our studies than worrying about football matches, but I guess that's not how it works in the real world 
. The thought of violent clashes between fans is really scary, and I don't want anything to happen to anyone. I think the police are doing their best to prepare for the worst-case scenario, but I'm still on edge thinking about it 
. What if things get out of hand? Can't we just focus on supporting our local football team instead of all this drama? 
- 60% of respondents from our online poll say they're worried about the clash between fans 
. But let's get real, 80% of Maccabi fans are from abroad and might not even know the first thing about Aston Villa 
. Meanwhile, our charts show a spike in searches for "how to avoid conflict" and "Europa League safety tips" 
- 12 million views on YouTube already! The stats say that 75% of locals are anxious about the match, while 40% think it'll bring some good attention to Palestine 
. Whatever happens, one thing's for sure: this is gonna be a wild ride 
police cant even guarantee safety here. 700 officers? that's not enough if there is gonna be clashes. and what about the innocent people caught in the middle? i hope everything stays calm but its hard to see how it wont end in chaos 
i dont no what's gonna happen but i hope police can keep it under control 
its gonna be a wild n crazy night 
️
. I've seen some of the comments online from people who are pro-Israel, saying that Maccabi should be allowed to attend because they're a "peaceful" club 
. Um, no one believes that 
.
. But at the end of the day, it's all about the match, innit? Will there be clashes? Will there be violence? We'll just have to wait and see 
.
The police are preparing for a volatile night but like... how can they even stop something that's out of their control?! 
? And what about the fans who are just excited to see their team play? They shouldn't be penalized for that. The ban is pretty ridiculous and I'm not surprised there's so much controversy around it 
I'm worried about what could happen tonight... The whole situation with the Maccabi fans being banned from the match is super complicated 
. But on the other hand, some folks are really scared of things getting out of hand 
. I get it, though - we've seen some pretty intense stuff at sports matches before... 
. The police are doing their best to keep everyone safe 
... my cousin has a friend who's from Tel Aviv and they love Aston Villa, so that's a shame 
... anyway, police better be ready for whatever happens 
. Like, one wrong move from either side and it could get outta hand 
The police are doing their best, but with over 700 officers deployed, I guess that's a good start 
. And honestly, who knows what's gonna happen tonight? It's all so unpredictable 
...