Controversy over the Ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans in Europa League Match
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has expressed his disagreement with the decision to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa next month, citing security concerns.
West Midlands Police determined that the November 6th encounter at Villa Park is high-risk, alluding to incidents of violence and hate crimes that occurred during a Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam last season.
“This is a wrong decision,” Starmer wrote on the social network X. “We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Keir Starmer
Aston Villa, through a statement, reported that the police communicated to them “public safety concerns outside the stadium and the ability to manage potential protests during the night.” The Premier League club added that they are “in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities during this process, prioritizing the safety of the fans attending the match and that of local residents.”Maccabi Tel Aviv fans during the Europa League match against Ajax last season.
West Midlands Police, for their part, assured they have a solid track record in controlling football matches and other high-risk public events. A force spokesperson stated: “We are committed to fair and impartial policing, balancing the public’s right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.”
“Following an exhaustive assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs. Maccabi Tel-Aviv match as high risk. Although the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to ban the attendance of away fans,” added the spokesperson.
The police force explained that this decision is based on “current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crimes that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.
The police believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
The match at Villa Park will be the team’s first away game in the Europa League since the pro-Palestinian protests at the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the club played against PAOK on September 24. Approximately 120 Israeli club fans traveled to Greece for that match and were held back by a police cordon before entering the stadium.
The Council of Jewish Leadership, based in London, called Thursday’s decision unfair.
“It is perverse that visiting fans are banned from entering a football match because West Midlands police cannot guarantee their safety. Aston Villa should bear the consequences of this decision and the match should be played behind closed doors,” the organization stated in a statement.
