West Midlands Police have told MPs that the risk of violence by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was the primary reason for recommending a ban on supporters attending a Europa League match at Aston Villa, not the threat of antisemitic attacks.
In a letter to the Commons home affairs committee, Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara said that while the potential for antisemitic hate crime was acknowledged, it was not the predominant factor. The principal risks included spontaneous public disorder, organised protest, and violence from Maccabi risk supporters.
The letter, published on Monday, confirms earlier reports that police intelligence concluded the biggest threat came from extremist fans of the Israeli club. This contradicts the initial reaction from political leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, who suggested the police were accepting they could not protect Jewish fans from antisemitic violence.
O’Hara also cited intelligence about Maccabi fans’ conduct at a match against Ajax in Amsterdam in November 2024, alleging that 500–600 fans targeted Muslim communities. However, Dutch police have disputed these claims, saying only 1,200 officers were deployed and questioning the scale of targeting.
The ban was ultimately imposed by Birmingham City Council’s safety advisory group, based on police advice. Ministers tried to reverse the decision but failed after Maccabi Tel Aviv decided not to apply for tickets for its fans.
