More than 700 police officers will be deployed to ensure public safety when Aston Villa face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League on Thursday.

Residents living close to Villa Park have been warned of significant disruption as a result of the policing for the match, from which supporters of the Israeli club were initially banned before Maccabi decided not to take up their ticket allocation for safety reasons.

Pro-Palestinian groups have called for the game to be cancelled and, with protests due to take place, senior officers from West Midlands Police have warned those attending over their behaviour.

Birmingham Police commander, Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce, said: "Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate.

"We have been working closely w

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