Authorities in Birmingham and UK police have advised against the presence of Israeli team supporters at the match, citing ‘public safety risks’.
Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Israeli football club, will be prohibited from attending their upcoming Europa League fixture against Aston Villa in the UK next month due to security concerns, the English club announced.
The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) of Birmingham City, responsible for granting safety certifications for events at Villa Park-the venue for the match-has informed Aston Villa that visiting fans from Maccabi Tel Aviv will not be allowed entry.
Aston Villa released a statement on Thursday confirming that “the club has been notified that no away supporters will be permitted at the UEFA Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following guidance from the Safety Advisory Group.”
“Police have expressed concerns regarding public safety outside the stadium and their capacity to manage any potential demonstrations on match day,” the club added.
Aston Villa confirms that no away fans will be allowed at the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 16, 2025
West Midlands Police classified the fixture as high risk, citing “current intelligence and past incidents, including violent confrontations and hate crimes during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.”
“From a professional standpoint, we believe this precaution will reduce threats to public safety,” the police statement said.
Last year’s disturbances in Amsterdam involved clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, resulting in numerous arrests and five imprisonments.
West Midlands Police supports the Safety Advisory Group’s decision on the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match.
Read our full statement 👉 https://t.co/NMLkntX08n pic.twitter.com/GgxeYvc7Xm
– West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) October 16, 2025
Although initial reports highlighted anti-Semitic attacks during the Amsterdam incidents on November 6 and 7, further investigations revealed that some Israeli fans instigated violence, vandalizing Palestinian solidarity symbols, assaulting locals, and chanting racist and genocidal slogans targeting Palestinians and Arabs.
Prominent figures including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and the Jewish Leadership Council in London have publicly condemned the ban.
Starmer expressed on social media that the decision was “incorrect.”
“The police’s responsibility is to ensure that all football supporters can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation,” he stated.
This is the wrong decision.
We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.
The police must guarantee that all football fans can watch the game safely and without intimidation. https://t.co/8aBeqE4qbA
– Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 16, 2025
Foreign Minister Saar condemned the ban as “a disgraceful ruling” and urged UK officials to “reconsider this cowardly choice.”
A shameful decision!
I call on UK authorities to overturn this cowardly ruling! https://t.co/K5h32VpYa6– Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) October 16, 2025
The Jewish Leadership Council criticized the ban, calling it “disturbing that visiting fans are banned because West Midlands Police cannot guarantee their safety.”
They further stated, “Aston Villa should bear the consequences of this decision, and the match ought to proceed behind closed doors.”
This prohibition on away supporters coincides with increasing demands to exclude Israeli football teams from international tournaments due to Israel’s actions in Gaza, which many describe as genocide.
Ashish Prashar, campaign director at Game Over Israel, which advocates for Israel’s exclusion from FIFA and UEFA, told Al Jazeera, “We have gathered and verified comprehensive evidence showing how football culture is being exploited to support genocide.”
“Our report covers everything from stadium racism and assaults across Europe to soldiers using football as propaganda for genocide, illustrating why Israel’s participation in global sports is indefensible.”
Earlier this month, over 30 legal experts addressed UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, urging the suspension of Israel from competitions. They referenced a United Nations report confirming Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians.
The experts emphasized the devastating impact on Palestinian athletes and sports infrastructure in Gaza.
“These atrocities have destroyed an entire generation of athletes, undermining Palestinian sports,” they wrote.
“The Israel Football Association’s failure to oppose these violations implicates it in systemic oppression, making its involvement in UEFA events unacceptable,” they added.
“UEFA must not enable sports-washing of such blatant breaches of international law, including genocide,” the letter concluded.
