Several protests against the ongoing war in Gaza are expected before the kick-off of the Europa League game on Thursday evening.

Local school the BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy said it would close at 1.15pm ahead of the match.

The school’s principal told parents in an email that “a number of schools in the local area” were would be doing the same ahead of the planned protests.

Another school, Mansfield Primary Academy, which is less than a mile from the stadium, also said it would be closing at 2pm “due to the Villa match”.

This comes after protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign announced it will protest the match to demand Israel be excluded from international football.

In a statement, the group said: “Israeli football is deeply involved in Israel’s oppression

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