Aston Villa-Maccabi ban latest: Home Office was told last week about plan to block Tel Aviv fans, police say

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it would seek a judicial review against a decision by Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv to ban its fans from attending its match against Aston Villa next month.

A spokesman for the group said: “Today we are notifying Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police of our intention to hold a judicial review of the decision to ban fans from attending the match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“Our lawyers are writing to the council and the police in line with pre-trial protocol for a judicial review.

“Police forces and local councils must do whatever it takes to ensure Britain is safe for everyone. The decision was rightly condemned by the government and opposition parties. We understand the decision was not made by Aston Villa.”

“We will do whatever it takes to lift this evil ban that has humiliated and angered the entire country.

“Britain is increasingly aware of the extremism in our midst, but now we must all combat the instinctive appeasement within our authorities and law enforcement.”

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee have demanded an explanation from West Midlands Police over its decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending next month’s match against Aston Villa.

In a letter to Chief Constable Craig Guildford, committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said the decision “undermines the principle that our national game, football, is for everyone”.

He said: “We are deeply concerned that your force does not believe it can keep football fans safe if away fans, including those living in the UK, are allowed to attend the match.”

The committee asked the police chief why he did not believe the agency could control the game if away fans attended, what would change that belief, what alternatives were being considered, and whether the agency was confident Tel Aviv players and staff would be safe.

In a separate statement, Dame Caroline said: “The police need to be open about how and why they came to the decision that a ban was the only way to guarantee public safety and whether there was any way of reversing this deeply regrettable situation.”

Birmingham City Council has said its decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match at Aston Villa in November will not be reviewed unless there is a change to the risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police.

A council spokesman said: “The Safety Advisory Group made a decision based on the risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police.

“Should there be a change in the risk assessment of the upcoming match between Aston Villa Football Club and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Safety Advisory Group will undertake to review its decision as appropriate.”

Kemi Badenoch said the home secretary had “serious questions to answer” after it emerged his department had been informed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans could be banned from attending the Aston Villa match.

The Conservative leader said: “This is a weak government that fails to act when necessary.

“We now learn that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood knew that Jewish football fans were banned from stadiums in England and did nothing.

“Just like Starmer did nothing when he found out the Chinese spy case was collapsing.

“The Home Secretary has serious questions to answer.

“Only the Conservatives have the backbone to defend the safety of Jews and defend our national security.”

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has announced its support for a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending next month’s Europa League match at Aston Villa and criticized the Prime Minister for opposing the action.

PSC director Ben Jamal said: “(Sir Keir) Starmer’s willingness to conflate opposition to Israel’s crimes with antisemitism has now led him to a place where, in the name of so-called anti-racism, he is openly defending the right of anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, violent thugs to demonstrate their hatred in a British city and at a football match.

“The Maccabi fanbase has a horrific history of racist violence which has seen them banned from the city of Amsterdam. Starmer wants Birmingham to be home to people chanting for Palestinians to be raped and their villages torched.”

“The fixture should not go ahead. Israel and all Israeli clubs should be excluded from international competitions.”

West Midlands Police referred to “previous incidents” involving Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans.

Last year, there were violent clashes between Ajax fans and Israeli football team fans.

Amsterdam police chief said Maccabi fans attacked a taxi and set fire to a Palestinian flag the day before the match.

But Mayor Halsema said the actions were no excuse for what would happen later when violence broke out in the European city.

Holly Evans explains how last year’s clashes unfolded:

Some pro-Palestinian groups praised the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football match in Birmingham.

Groups such as the Youth Front for Palestine, Game Over Israel and Football Against Apartheid issued a joint statement on social media, saying the move was “minimal”.

“This victory is a clear example of pressure work,” the statement said.

“We will not stop until Israel leaves UEFA and FIFA”