Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Gaby Hinsliff

By seeking to defuse domestic tensions over Gaza, West Midlands police ended up making matters worse

Police Damien Egan Gaby Hinsliff Gaza West Midlands Maccabi Andy Cooke Muslim Villa Park
A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan is escorted by police before the match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on 6 November 2025.
A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan is escorted by police before the match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on 6 November 2025. Photograph: Darren Staples/AP

It was an infamous night in football.

More than 5,000 Dutch police officers had to be deployed to contain hundreds of Israeli fans embarking on a post-match rampage, tearing down Palestinian flags, assaulting Muslim taxi drivers and throwing innocent bystanders into a river.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
53 Animals Who Never Planned To Be Funny, As Shared By This Facebook Page
These animals have flawless comic timing and absolutely no idea. Luckily, someone always had a camera ready.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Ben Affleck banned from Instagram twice
Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has revealed he was banned from Instagram twice for "impersonating" himself - admitting he only wanted an account to see what his kids were up to online.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Woman finds a white purse at a thrift store. Then she unzips a small pocket and realizes it isn’t empty: ‘This is crazy’
That was a surprise!
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Pop Star Britney Spears Reportedly Branded 'Clueless' by Critics Over Recent Dollywood Ride Video
Britney Spears shared footage from a family visit to Dollywood, praising the Tennessee attraction, while some online viewers criticised the language heard during a spinning-ride video.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
What Happened to Travis Barker? Musician Shares Hospital Photos as Kourtney Kardashian Stays by His Side
Travis Barker says he underwent cubital tunnel release surgery after experiencing numbness in his arm, hand and fingers, adding that he hopes to resume drumming within weeks.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman orders a Whopper and a Whopper Jr. at a mall Burger King. Then she sees the $30 total and shows the camera the tray: ‘This is crazy’
She showed everything that came with it.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play