Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: No away fans allowed at Villa Park for Europa League match
Safety Advisory Group (SAG) told Aston Villa no travelling fans will be permitted at Villa Park for match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 6; Sir Keir Starmer says decision is 'wrong'; West Midlands Police standing firm on decision and is not responding to criticism from Prime Minister
Friday 17 October 2025 11:51, UK
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their match against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the Europa League next month.
The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) informed Aston Villa that no travelling supporters will be permitted at Villa Park after it was classified as a "high risk" event.
West Midlands Police said the decision to ban away supporters was "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".
Dutch police arrested 62 people in the Netherlands' capital after disorder surrounding the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. There were also protests over the war in Gaza when Israel played Norway and Italy in World Cup qualifiers last week.
"This is the wrong decision," Starmer said in a statement. "We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation."
Ian Murray, the science and technology minister, told Sky News that Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders on Friday "to try and see if there's a way through this".
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision a "national disgrace".
West Midlands Police is standing firm on its decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Villa Park and said it will not be responding to the Prime Minister's criticism.
A spokesperson for the force said: "We are committed to delivering fair and impartial policing, while balancing the public's right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.
"Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture as high risk.
"While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.
"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."
The force said that, based on officers' professional judgment, it believed the measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
"We remain steadfast in our support of all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms," the police spokesperson added.
Earlier on Thursday, an Aston Villa statement read: "The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision."
The Jewish Leadership Council, which works to protect British Jews, criticised the decision to stop Israeli fans from travelling to Birmingham.
In a post on X, it said it was "perverse that away fans should be banned from a football match because West Midlands Police can't guarantee their safety".
It added: "Aston Villa should face the consequences of this decision and the match should be played behind closed doors."
Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said he welcomed the news that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would "not be permitted to watch the match at Aston Villa".
There had been "so much hostility and uncertainty around the match" that it was "only right to take drastic measures", he said.
A statement from UEFA to Sky Sports said: "UEFA wants fans to be able to travel and support their team in a safe, secure and welcoming environment, and encourages both teams and the competent authorities to agree on the implementation of appropriate measures necessary to allow this to happen.
"In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the safety and security of matches taking place on their territory."
