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Safety advisers in Birmingham City and UK police said Israeli team fans should not attend match due to \u2018risks to public safety\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n Fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv have been barred from attending a Europa League game against Aston Villa in the United Kingdom next month because of security concerns, the English club said.<\/p>\n Birmingham City\u2019s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) \u2013 the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches at Villa Park, where the game is to be played \u2013 informed Aston Villa that Maccabi Tel Aviv away fans will not be permitted to attend.<\/p>\n list of 4 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/p>\n Aston Villa confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the \u201cclub has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPolice have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night,\u201d the club said.<\/p>\n Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n \u2014 Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n West Midlands Police said they had classified the match as high risk based on \u201ccurrent intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety,\u201d the police force said.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s clashes in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian supporters and Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv led to dozens of arrests and five people imprisoned.<\/p>\n WMP supports Safety Advisory Group decision regarding Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv football match. <\/p>\n Click for our statement \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/NMLkntX08n pic.twitter.com\/GgxeYvc7Xm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) October 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n While accusations of anti-Semitic attacks quickly circulated following the clashes in Amsterdam on November 6 and 7, reports soon emerged of Israeli fans provoking the violence and of rampaging through the Dutch capital, assaulting residents, destroying symbols of Palestinian solidarity and chanting racist and genocidal slogans against Palestinians and Arabs.<\/p>\n British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Israel\u2019s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and the London-based Jewish Leadership Council have all criticised the ban.<\/p>\n Starmer said in a post on social media that the ban was \u201cthe wrong decision\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This is the wrong decision.<\/p>\n We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.<\/p>\n The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.https:\/\/t.co\/8aBeqE4qbA<\/p>\n \u2014 Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Foreign Minister Saar described the ban as a \u201cshameful decision\u201d and called on authorities in the UK to \u201creverse this coward decision\u201d.<\/p>\n Shameful decision! Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n
I call on the UK authorities to reverse this coward decision! https:\/\/t.co\/K5h32VpYa6<\/p>\n