British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized a decision to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match at Aston Villa next month due to security concerns.
West Midlands Police deemed the November 6 match at Villa Park a high-risk match, citing violence and hate crimes that took place when Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in Amsterdam last season.
“This is the wrong decision,” Starmer said. «We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation.»
Villa said in a statement on Thursday that police had informed the club that “they are concerned about public safety outside the stadium bowl and are able to deal with any protests during the night.”
The Premier League club added that “the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents will be at the forefront of any decision.”
West Midlands Police said in a statement that it has a “strong record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events.”
“This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crimes that took place during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam,” the police statement said.
MORE DETAILS | Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned from Europa League match at Aston Villa
“We remain steadfast in our support for all affected communities and reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy towards hate crime in all its forms.”
The match at Villa Park will be Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first away match in the Europa League since pro-Palestinian protests took place at the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the club played PAOK on September 24.
About 120 fans of the Israeli club traveled to Greece for that match and were held behind a police cordon before entering the venue.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans violently clashed with city residents in Amsterdam last season when the team visited for a Europa League match against Ajax.
Conflicts erupt in Amsterdam after a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax on November 8, 2024. | Photo credit: REUTERS
Conflicts erupt in Amsterdam after a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax on November 8, 2024. | Photo credit: REUTERS
European football body UEFA had been considering a vote to suspend Israeli teams from their competitions before it was overtaken by the Gaza ceasefire this month.
The London-based Jewish Leadership Council called Thursday’s decision unfair.
«It is perverse that away fans should be excluded from a football match because West Midlands Police cannot guarantee their safety. Aston Villa must face the consequences of this decision and the match must be played behind closed doors,» the organizers said in a statement.
Published on October 17, 2025
