Aston Villa host Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night after a contentious and political build-up to the Europa League fixture.

After weeks of controversy, the Israeli side will make the visit to play at Villa Park for the first fixture between the two clubs.

However, Maccabi will do so without their away fans after the recommendation was passed down by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group.

That decision prompted outcry from politicians on both sides, including the Prime Minister, but the ban on visiting fans ultimately remained in place.

Despite that, as many as 700 police officers are still expected to be at Villa Park, with protests expected on the day.

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Ahead of the fixture, he’s a look at how we got here and the controversy that unfolded.

Before every football fixture, a city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) will make an assessment of the necessary police presence and any potential restrictions that need to...