A police request to close city centre pubs because of the threat of violence after the Blues-Villa derby was sharply criticised by a senior Birmingham city councillor.
Ken Hardeman, the cabinet member for regeneration, said Birmingham's reputation as a major international city had been damaged by the closure for several hours of scores of bars and restaurants.
Coun Hardeman (Con Brandwood) said he was surprised when he took friends to Broad Street for lunch only to discover that nearly all of the pubs were closed.
"There are hundreds and hundreds of people who come into Birmingham city centre on a Sunday to shop and look around. Yet it would appear the police, mindful of violence at a football match, have literally ordered the closure of the city centre," he said.
"It is extremely worrying if this is going to happen every time there is a major football match. Birmingham has just been named International City of the Future. What on earth are people going to think if they come here only to find out that they can't even get a drink and a meal on Broad Street?"
Coun Hardeman said he would talk to the police to see whether, in future, there might be a more effective response.
