Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa on 6 November, calling it the 'wrong decision'. The ban was imposed by West Midlands Police due to safety concerns following violent incidents during a previous match in Amsterdam.
West Midlands Police classified the fixture as 'high risk' based on intelligence and previous incidents, including clashes and hate crimes during the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam in November 2023. The police stated the measure would 'help mitigate risks to public safety' and reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance on hate crime.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the ban as a 'national disgrace', while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called on UK authorities to reverse the 'coward decision'. Aston Villa confirmed the local safety advisory group instructed the club that no away fans would be permitted, prioritising the safety of supporters and local residents.
The unrest in Amsterdam involved Maccabi fans tearing down a Palestinian flag, shouting anti-Palestinian slogans, and vandalising a taxi. After the match, hit-and-run assaults on Maccabi fans led to five hospitalisations and 20-30 minor injuries, with 62 arrests. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign called for the match to be cancelled, citing Israel's actions in Gaza.
Uefa stated that local authorities are responsible for safety decisions based on risk assessments. Similar bans have occurred elsewhere, including Ajax fans barred from a Champions League match in Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt fans prevented from travelling to Napoli.
