Aston Villa has announced a ban on supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending their upcoming UEFA Europa League group stage fixture at Villa Park, scheduled for November 6. The decision stems from significant safety and security concerns both inside and outside the stadium, following strong recommendations from Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) and local police authorities.
The Birmingham Safety Advisory Group had formally communicated its apprehensions regarding potential safety issues and various risks associated with the high-profile match. In their letter to Aston Villa, SAG explicitly advised the Premier League club to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from being present at the encounter.
Acting promptly on these recommendations, Aston Villa confirmed its decision to implement a ban on all visiting supporters from the Israeli side. The club released a statement detailing the rationale behind the measure: “Police officials advised SAG that they had concerns about security issues outside the stadium. They would have difficulty dealing with the possibility of protest groups demonstrating during the match that night.”
English police have officially categorized the fixture between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv as a high-risk event. This classification is primarily based on the current geopolitical climate, which has seen numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the UK, even amidst a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Authorities highlighted a similar incident during the 2024 Europa League, where clashes between fans erupted during and after a match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, resulting in disorder.
The ban has drawn considerable criticism from several prominent figures. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his disapproval on social media, labeling the decision as ‘wrong’. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the ban as ‘shameful’ and called upon English police officials to reverse their stance. Furthermore, the London Jewish Leadership Council suggested that if Israeli supporters were to be excluded, Aston Villa should consider holding the match behind closed doors, without any fans present from either team.
