Six people have been arrested during protests outside Villa Park ahead of the Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The build-up to the Europa League match on Thursday night has been overshadowed by controversy with a ban being imposed on the Maccabi fans from attending the match at Aston Villa stadium Villa Park.

Police said earlier on Thursday that they banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their match at Aston Villa due to 'significant levels of hooliganism' in their fan base - rather than threats to visiting Israelis.

The decision on the ban was even criticised by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with the government portraying the exclusion of Israeli fans as anti-semitic.

However, no change in decision was forthcoming with tickets later not being made avail

See Full Page