British police are deploying more than 700 officers in Birmingham, where local football club Aston Villa will host Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League three weeks after the home team’s decision to bar travelling supporters from attending the match due to threats of violence.

The group-stage match between Villa and Maccabi in the second-tier European competition will kick off at 20:00 GMT on Thursday, and a heavy police presence is expected around the stadium, in the city centre and surrounding areas.

“We know protests by different groups will take place on the day, and we have plans in place which balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham,” Chief Superintendent of West Midlands police Tom Joyce said on the morning of the fix

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