Six people were arrested during protests surrounding Aston Villa's game against Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham.
A group of Palestine supporters gathered outside Villa Park about two hours before the 8pm kick off and were faced by a smaller group of protesters who were demonstrating against a total ban on Maccabi fans.
A few fans of the Israeli club defied the ban on their club's supporters and posed for pictures outside Villa Park.
More than 700 police officers were at the venue for the tie, part of a huge security operation that also involved horses, dogs and a drone unit.
West Midlands Police said a man, 21, was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, while a 17-year-old was arrested for failing to comply with a dispersal order.
Three other people were arrested for racially aggravated public order offences and another person was arrested for breach of the peace.
West Midlands Police also announced on Wednesday night that it will be using Section 60 powers – the ability to “stop and search people without the need to have reasonable grounds”.
Anti-Israel posters were tied to the gates of the ground and to lampposts in the surrounding streets.
The group Palestine Solidarity Campaign had announced it was holding a protest before the match to demand Israel and its clubs are excluded from international football.
At about 6pm, 200 protesters, including members of the PSC, gathered near a children's park next to Villa Park's Trinity Road stand.
Video on social media showed demonstrators chanting "Death, death to the IDF" and "From the river to the sea".
One woman holding an Israeli flag in front of protesters was led away by police, with one man heard to shout "Allahu Akbar" at her.
Witnesses said the woman was ushered into a side street and spoken to by police before leaving the area.
A group of Aston Villa fans gathered opposite the pro-Palestinian protesters and began chanting at them, as police kept the two sides apart.
Meanwhile, about 40 protesters, one carrying an Israeli flag and others carrying posters saying "keep anti-Semitism out of football", gathered on a basketball court close to the ground to hear various speakers oppose the ban on Maccabi fans.
Five flatbed vehicles were earlier driven past the ground before the kick-off to the match, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing anti-Semitism.
One of the messages, beside a Star of David, read "Ban hatred, not fans" while another carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying that football is not about goals but bringing people together.
In a statement before the protest, the PSC said: “Israeli football is deeply involved in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
“The Israel Football Association, of which Maccabi Tel Aviv is a member, contains at least six clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land. Maccabi Tel Aviv has itself supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza by sending care packages to serving Israeli soldiers.”
Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group announced in October that visiting fans would be banned from attending the Villa Park clash because of public safety concerns.
Police have classified the fixture as "high risk", citing "violent clashes and hate crime offences" during a Europa League match in Amsterdam between Maccabi and Ajax last November. That game sparked two days of clashes between Dutch and Israeli fans in the city.
For this fixture, Maccabi reacted by announcing they would decline any away tickets for the match after the UK government said it was “working around the clock” to ensure fans from both sides could attend. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for the ban on away fans to be overturned, saying it was “the wrong decision”.
The chairman of the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Naeem Malik, said the protests were designed to be peaceful.
"There will be no violence from our side. We have been protesting in this city for over two years now, since these Gaza attacks have been going on, since the genocide is taking place," he told ITV.
Mr Malik said there are "more arrests" around football matches "than there are on our marches".
"They've all been very peaceful. There have been no attacks on anybody and there have been very, very few arrests, if any."
A pro-Israeli group has also organised a Maccabi Solidarity Rally to take place at the same time.
Some schools in the area are closing early to avoid any possible issues.
"Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate,” Birmingham police commander Chief Supt Tom Joyce said:
Maccabi Tel Aviv manager Zarko Lazetic said it was disappointing that his side’s supporters have been banned but he was keen to avoid any inflammatory remarks in his pre-match news conference.
Lazetic asked to keep the focus on football but agreed it would have been better if his side had their allocation of about 2,000 seats inside Villa Park.
Asked whether it was sad that there would be an empty away section, Serbian Lazetic said: “Yeah, of course. Unfair or fair, in the world I am not one to judge that, but on the pitch it is 11 against 11 and we will try to do our best.”
Aston Villa fans have also been warned about displaying any political images or flags, in compliance with Uefa regulations, on an evening expected to be highly charged.
Earlier on Wednesday, journalists were told not to ask any non-football questions during Villa boss Unai Emery’s pre-match media conference at the training ground, where two Palestine supporters stood outside.
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Match info
Huddersfield Town 0
Chelsea 3
Kante (34'), Jorginho (45' pen), Pedro (80')
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
MATCH INFO
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m
9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
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