British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday strongly denounced the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa. He labeled the move as the “wrong choice” after police advised the club to prohibit away fans due to security concerns.
Starmer expressed his disapproval on X, stating, “This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.” He emphasized that the police’s role is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation.
Earlier on Thursday, Aston Villa announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would not be allowed to attend the match scheduled for 6 November 6, citing “public safety concerns” as the reason for this decision. In their statement, Villa confirmed they had received instructions from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which issues safety certificates for matches at Villa Park.
Consequently, the SAG formally notified the club and UEFA that it would not allow any away fans at this fixture. Villa stated, “West Midlands Police advised the SAG of public safety concerns outside the stadium and the ability to manage potential protests on match night.”
High-Risk Classification and Previous Clashes
However, local police classified the fixture as “high risk” following a thorough assessment, with spokesperson explaining, “This decision is based on current 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.”
Additionally, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters faced assaults in Amsterdam during a match against Ajax last November, which resulted from two days of skirmishes, where Maccabi fans chanted anti-Arab songs, vandalized property, and pulled down a Palestinian flag.
The Jewish Leadership Council condemned the decision, calling it “perverse” that the police should ban away fans over safety concerns. They insisted Aston Villa must face consequences for this choice and urged authorities to play the match behind closed doors.
