Aston Villa told matchday stewards they would not have to work during the club's Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv, citing possible safety 'concerns', it has been reported. In an email sent on 3 October, stewards were told they could submit a one-off absence request for the match on 6 November, and that this would not affect their contractual minimum attendance of 80%.
The offer came after a number of stewards allegedly raised concerns about safety. The club's decision preceded West Midlands police's ban on Maccabi fans from the fixture, which was based on intelligence classifying the match as 'high risk' following violent clashes in Amsterdam in 2024 involving Maccabi supporters.
West Midlands police said they could not safely police the fixture due to 'violent clashes and hate crime offences' at the Ajax vs Maccabi match in Amsterdam, where over 60 people were arrested and four locals were jailed for violence against Maccabi fans. Reports also detailed Maccabi fans tearing down a Palestinian flag and chanting anti-Palestinian slogans.
The Home Office has offered extra support to reverse the ban, and a meeting with Birmingham's safety advisory group is set for next week. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has notified Birmingham City Council and West Midlands police of its intention to bring a judicial review against the ban, calling it 'pernicious'.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the police decision 'wrong', stating 'we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets'. UEFA has urged local authorities to allow Maccabi fans to travel. Aston Villa said in a statement they are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities, with safety at the forefront of decisions.
