British government intervenes: Ban on Maccabi fans at Aston Villa

Controversy over the Ban of Maccabi Tel-Aviv Fans in Europa League Match

High-ranking government officials will meet on Friday to address the security ban that would prevent Maccabi Tel-Aviv fans from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa next month. The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has informed Aston Villa that away fans will not be allowed entry to the match at Villa Park on November 6th, a decision that has generated controversy and has been criticized by the Prime Minister. There are concerns about possible disturbances and protests related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. However, the Prime Minister issued a strong statement opposing the decision. The culture department minister, Ian Murray, suggested that the matter is not closed.

The Prime Minister and the Government have been clear about this. In fact, practically all politicians have been clear about it. It is completely unacceptable, and the Prime Minister has said that we will do everything possible to resolve this problem.

Ian Murray

The Prime Minister had previously written on X:

This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism in our streets. The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation. UEFA, the governing body of European football, has also expressed its opinion, promoting the principle of inclusion for visiting fans. In a statement, it reads: “UEFA wishes that fans can travel and support their team in a safe and welcoming environment, and encourages both teams and the relevant authorities to agree on the implementation of the appropriate measures necessary for this to happen.” In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the security of the matches held in their territory, decisions that are determined on the basis of exhaustive risk assessments, which vary from one match to another and take into account the previous circumstances.

When announcing the news, the club stated that it will continue to monitor the situation. Aston Villa stated: “The club maintains an ongoing dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities during this ongoing process, with the safety of the fans attending the match and the safety of local residents as a priority in any decision.” West Midlands Police has stated that it has a strong track record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events. A police force spokesperson stated: “We are committed to providing fair and impartial policing, balancing the public’s right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.” After a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv match as high-risk. While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to ban the attendance of visiting fans. 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. We remain steadfast in our support for all affected communities and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance against hate crimes in all their forms.