Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the choice to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv followers from attending their match towards Aston Villa at Villa Park within the Europa League subsequent month.
The Security Advisory Group (SAG) knowledgeable Aston Villa that no travelling supporters shall be permitted at Villa Park after it was categorised as a “high risk” occasion.
West Midlands Police stated the choice 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 folks within the Netherlands’ capital after dysfunction surrounding the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“This is the wrong decision,” Starmer stated in a press release.
“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.”
West Midlands Police is standing agency on its resolution to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv followers from Villa Park and stated it is not going to be responding to the Prime Minister’s criticism.
A spokesperson for the pressure stated: “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 an intensive evaluation, we’ve categorised the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture as excessive threat.
“While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.
“This resolution is predicated on present intelligence and former incidents, together with violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred through 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 stay steadfast in our assist of all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its kinds,” the police spokesperson added.
Earlier on Thursday, an Aston Villa assertion learn: “Aston Villa can confirm the club 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.
“The Security Advisory Group are liable for issuing security certificates for each match at Villa Park, primarily based on a variety of bodily and security components.
“Following a meeting [on Thursday] afternoon, 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.
“West Midlands Police have suggested the SAG that they’ve public security considerations exterior the stadium bowl and the power to take care of any potential protests on the evening.
“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 guard British Jews, criticised the choice to cease Israeli followers from travelling to Birmingham.
In a put up on X, it stated 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 impartial MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, stated he welcomed the information that Maccabi Tel Aviv followers 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 stated.
An announcement from UEFA to Sky Sports activities stated: “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 circumstances, the competent native authorities stay liable for selections associated to the security and safety of matches happening on their territory, such selections being decided on the premise of thorough threat assessments, which differ from match to match and take into accounts earlier circumstances.”
