The UK government has pledged to do “everything in our power” to overturn a decision preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month.
The move comes after the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) ruled that supporters of the Israeli club would not be permitted to attend the fixture at Villa Park on 6 November due to security concerns. The decision has sparked a wave of political and public backlash, with critics calling it discriminatory and “deeply wrong.”
A government spokesperson confirmed that the Home Office is “working with police and other partners” to explore additional security resources that could allow the game to proceed safely with both sets of fans present. “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are,” the spokesperson said, adding that the situation would be reviewed at a SAG meeting expected next week.
The decision to exclude visiting supporters follows a “high-risk” classification by West Midlands Police, based on intelligence from previous clashes. In November 2024, violent confrontations between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam led to over 60 arrests. Dutch authorities described that incident as “a toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” linked to the ongoing war in Gaza and wider tensions in the Middle East.
The Home Office reportedly received early warnings that restrictions on Israeli fans were being considered, but officials only learned of the final decision on Thursday. The delay in communication has triggered criticism from opposition parties.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Labour government of “weak leadership,” saying Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had “serious questions to answer” over why her department “did nothing” to prevent the ban.
A Home Office source rejected the accusation as “categorically untrue,” insisting that Mahmood only became aware of the final decision on Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among the first to condemn the move, calling it “wrong” and warning that Britain “will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.” He urged local authorities and police to find a solution that allows fans to attend safely.
The decision has drawn widespread political reaction. The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK joined in condemning the fan ban, while Israeli officials expressed deep disappointment. However, the Green Party supported the Birmingham council’s decision, arguing that it was “irresponsible” for Starmer to undermine a local authority’s safety ruling.
Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr who ran on a pro-Gaza platform in last year’s general election, said the issue was “not just about safety but about morality.” He likened the situation to sanctions placed on Russian clubs after the invasion of Ukraine. “If Russian teams can be banned for atrocities, the same moral standard should apply to Israeli teams,” he said.
Khan also cited concerns about potential unrest, insisting that “even with extra police resources, it would be unwise to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend.”
Meanwhile, Maccabi supporters and members of the Jewish community have voiced anger and disbelief. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held hostage in Gaza before being released in January, said she was “shocked to my core with this outrageous decision.”
“Football is supposed to unite people regardless of faith or nationality,” Damari said. “This disgusting decision does the exact opposite.”
As tensions rise, both Birmingham City Council and the Home Office have confirmed that the SAG will reconvene if West Midlands Police revises its risk assessment. For now, the fate of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s travelling fans remains uncertain, with growing political pressure on the government to find a solution before the November clash at Villa Park.
