More than 700 police deployed across the UK city of Birmingham Thursday for protests planned ahead of a football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa, with visiting Israeli fans barred.

The UK government last month vowed to reverse the ban on Maccabi fans attending the Europa League match in the city in central England that has a significant Muslim population after widespread criticism of the decision taken by local safety advisors and police.

However, the Israeli club later announced it would decline any tickets for its fans, citing safety concerns.

Villa have said they are not selling tickets for the vacant away end of their Villa Park stadium.

Birmingham, the UK's second-largest city, has been the scene of regular pro-Palestinian rallies over the last two years.

Close to Villa's stadium on Thursday there was a large,........

© Al Monitor