Hundreds of protesters descended on Birmingham to demonstrate at the controversial Aston Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Eleven arrests were made amid a huge police operation, with more than 700 officers deployed for the Europa League match.
A large number of pro-Palestinian supporters waved banners and flags outside Villa Park, while a smaller group of pro-Israeli campaigners marched towards the ground in the wake of the decision to ban away fans from the game.
Ch Supt Tom Joyce said the vast police presence had been necessary due to several groups arranging protests and counter-protests ahead of the game.
“We police football matches a lot. We police protests a lot. We deal with all sorts of public order scenarios, but certainly the level of interest, the level of concern around this match is pretty unprecedented.”
Among those arrested were five people on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences.
One man, 21, was arrested after allegedly trying to throw fireworks into the ground, while another was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intention to supply.
Another 21-year-old was arrested for failing to comply with an order to remove a face mask, and a boy of 17 was held for failing to comply with a dispersal order. Another person was arrested for a breach of the peace.
There were minor scuffles shortly before the match began at 20:00 GMT as the final groups of fans made their way into the ground past the demonstrations.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving flags and banners calling for an end to violence in Gaza.
A counter-protest by pro-Israeli campaigners marched down a road outside Villa Park. Five flatbed vehicles were also driven past the ground prior to kick-off, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing antisemitism.
One message, beside a Star of David, read “Ban hatred not fans” while another carried a quote from Thierry Henry saying football is not about goals but bringing people together.
Aston Villa announced last month that no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be welcome at the match, a decision made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group following intelligence from West Midlands Police.
The Guardian reported the force’s intelligence concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club, with scores of fans connected to a past history of violence and shouting “racist taunts” likely to travel to Birmingham.
The decision was the focus of parliamentary-level debate and led to MPs questioning West Midlands Police about the move, but Chief Constable Craig Guildford stood by it.
Maccabi Tel Aviv later said supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.
On Thursday, numbers of officers from the West Midlands force were boosted by police from 10 forces across the country.
Ch Supt Joyce, Birmingham’s police commander, said police had prepared for the possibility of people turning up looking for a fight.
He told Media News that “significant levels of hooliganism” among the Maccabi fan base was the reason for the ban.
Police are using Section 60 powers – which allow officers to stop and search anyone – in an area stretching from Aston and Perry Barr to Birmingham New Street and the city centre, which started at midday and run until 03:00 on Friday.
