Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have condemned the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park. The club announced the move on Thursday, just 21 days ahead of the Israeli side’s visit to the Premier League ground for the European clash.
Villa Park’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) instructed the club that no travelling fans would be allowed to attend as away supporters. West Midlands Police referenced previous flashpoints, including last season’s violent scenes involving Ajax and Maccabi supporters, as justification for the ban.
Yet the ruling has sparked fury across the political spectrum, with Starmer insisting police must “ensure all football fans enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation.” Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch went further, branding the decision a “national disgrace”.
Taking to X – formerly Twitter – the Prime Minister declared: “This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.
“The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.” Villa released a statement confirming no away supporters would be present for the Group Stage showdown on November 6 following directives from the SAG.
“Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group,” the statement began. “The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.
“Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture. West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.
“The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”
A representative for West Midlands Police confirmed they back the decision and the force remains “steadfast in support of all affected communities and reaffirm” their zero-tolerance stance on hate crime at all times.
Their statement read: “West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending. This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
“Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.”