Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic during a press conference(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Maccabi Tel Aviv boss Zarko Lazetic revealed that his team had to reach Villa Park a full five hours ahead of their contentious Europa Conference League encounter with Aston Villa.

The league phase fixture at Villa Park, which the home side claimed 2-0, became a significant political football match following the prohibition of the Israeli club's fans due to safety concerns.

Over 700 police officers were stationed as part of an extensive security operation, featuring mounted police, police dogs and aerial surveillance units in preparation for anticipated pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations.

Eleven arrests were made in the area, five of which were on suspicion of racially aggravated offences. The others included failure to comply with orders and breaching the peace.

Lazetic explained that his squad was left waiting around after police instructed them to reach the ground at 3pm.

"It was not normal," the Serbian manager commented following strikes from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen that defeated his team. "Sitting... nothing to do. (We came) five hours before the match....