Football

West Midlands Police to deploy 700 officers for Aston Villa-Maccabi Tel Aviv match

The force will use police dogs and a drone unit to ‘maintain Birmingham’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone’

Former jihadi calls on ‘all Muslims’ to descend on Villa Park – but to leave guns and machetes at home

Shahid Butt added that balaclavas were not necessary either ‘unless you’ve got a bit of a sensitive job’

Tony takes the Golden Boot but Veterans fall to old rivals

Maccabi Tel Aviv rejects tickets for Aston Villa game even if fan ban overturned

The club blamed ‘hate-filled falsehoods’ spread by ‘divisive figures’, which it said had created a ‘toxic atmosphere’ that was unsafe for its fans.

Petition to reverse ban on Maccabi fans outstrips call for exclusion

The counter-petition labelled the ban ‘deeply troubling’ and ‘unjust’

Tel Aviv football derby called off after ‘violent riots’ among fans

Authorities said smoked grenades were thrown by supporters as fighting broke out, though Hapoel Tel Aviv accused police of ‘brutal’ treatment