A controversial ban on away supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. attending their Aston Villa F.C. Europa League fixture has triggered calls for urgent review and a wider reckoning of fan safety and antisemitism in England. The “Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban” has become the focus of high-level intervention as the UK government and police face pressure to enable attendance while managing security risks.
West Midlands Police, backed by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), recommended that no away fans be admitted for the November 6 match at Villa Park, citing the game as “high risk” based on “current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences” involving Maccabi supporters abroad.
The club confirmed it had been formally instructed that “no away fans will be permitted to attend” the Europa League tie following police advice.
Political backlash and calls for reversal
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the decision, stating it was “the wrong decision” and emphasising that “the role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Meanwhile, the Home Office and government departments are working “at pace” to explore what extra support West Midlands Police would need to allow Maccabi fans into the stadium safely.
The West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner Simon Foster also asked for an “immediate review” of the ban, indicating the decision may be overturned.
Broader context – antisemitism, protests and football security
The ban comes amid heightened concerns about antisemitic incidents in the UK and across Europe following the 2023-24 Gaza conflict and recent deadly attacks on Jewish sites in Britain. Reports show that hate-crimes targeting Jewish individuals have risen significantly.
In addition, the decision refers to violent clashes at last season’s Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and AFC Ajax in Amsterdam, where supporters of Maccabi were involved in antisemitic chanting and altercations.
Pro-Palestinian protests at football matches and calls for boycott of Israeli sides have also increased tensions ahead of the Villa fixture.
Implications for club and supporters
For Aston Villa, the decision and its potential reversal place the club and local authorities under intense scrutiny around match-day planning, policing costs and fan integration. The exclusion of an away contingent is rare in England and could set precedent.
For Maccabi Tel Aviv and their travelling supporters, the ban — and possible reversal — raises questions of fairness, discrimination and the right to sporting support irrespective of nationality. The club’s executive publicly expressed “dismay” at what they described as signalling something “more sinister”.
What happens next
In the coming days, the Safety Advisory Group and local authorities will assess whether additional policing resources or operational changes could allow the fans to attend. Government sources say they may underwrite extra costs to ensure safety while preserving access.
Meanwhile, UEFA has urged that fans should be allowed to travel and attend fixtures in safe conditions, pointing out that blanket bans can pose new risks by driving supporters away from controlled environments.
The decision’s outcome may influence how other high-risk international fixtures in England are managed going forward, especially those with political overlay.
