Wrong to stop Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending Aston Villa match, says PM

The Prime Minister said it was the “wrong decision” to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Aston Villa match.

Fans of the Israeli team will not be allowed to attend the Europa League match on November 6 due to security concerns. he said on thursday.

Sir Keir Starmer criticized the move, saying “We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets” and that the role of the police is to “ensure all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as a “national disgrace” and suggested Sir Keir should take action to reverse the decision.

He wrote to X that Starmer should “guarantee that Jewish fans can enter any football stadium in this country”.

“Otherwise it sends a terrible and shameful message: there are some places in Britain that Jews cannot go.”

West Midlands Police said the game was classed as high risk based on available intelligence and previous incidents, including “violent clashes and hate crime attacks” between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of the match in Amsterdam in November 2024.

The force said it had concerns about its ability to deal with possible protests at the match at Villa Park.

The Security Advisory Group, which issues security certificates for matches, has told Aston Villa that fans traveling to the match in Birmingham will not be allowed access.

Birmingham Perry Barr Independent MP Ayoub Khan welcomed the decision.

He said: “From the moment the match was announced, it was clear that there were hidden security risks that even our capable security and police authorities could not fully manage.

“With so much hostility and uncertainty surrounding the match, it was right to take drastic measures.”