Media365
British officials are under mounting pressure to reverse a decision that prevents Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a European match at Aston Villa. The Israeli government has criticised this ban.Aston Villa announced that following police guidance, away fans would not be permitted at the UEFA Europa League match against the Israeli club in Birmingham on November 6 due to security concerns. “Shameful decision! I call on the UK authorities to reverse this coward decision,” posted Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar on X.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer opposed the decision. He expressed his views on social media platform X. “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,” Starmer wrote on X.Britain’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy plans to meet with interior ministry officials and stakeholders to discuss possible solutions to the ban.“The Prime Minister has said we will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue,” Ian Murray told UK media.Villa received instructions from the Safety Advisory Group, which oversees safety certificates for matches at Villa Park stadium.“The SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture,” stated Villa’s announcement.The club explained that West Midlands Police expressed concerns about public safety outside the stadium and their ability to manage potential protests.Villa mentioned ongoing discussions with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities, prioritising spectator and resident safety. Local police classified the match as high risk after a thorough assessment.“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,” said a West Midlands police spokesperson.The Ajax versus Maccabi Tel Aviv match last November resulted in violent confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli fans.Israeli team supporters faced attacks in Amsterdam. The situation escalated with Maccabi fans engaging in anti-Arab chants and vandalism.Emily Damari, a British-Israeli previously held captive by Hamas, expressed disappointment at being unable to watch her supported team, Maccabi.“Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite,” Damari stated.Maccabi Tel Aviv’s chief executive Jack Angelides spoke about their experiences in other countries. He mentioned that despite less favourable sentiment toward Israeli teams, strong police presence prevented incidents.
