Overview

• West Midlands Police has barred Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the 6 November Europa League tie after classifying the match as high risk and citing intelligence and violence at Ajax–Maccabi in Amsterdam in 2024.
• The Home Office has offered extra support and asked police and Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group to set out requirements, with a formal review expected next week and no decision yet to lift the ban.
• Ed Miliband said Aston must not become a no-go area for Jews and signalled the government’s aim for both sets of fans to attend while stopping short of a guarantee.
• Criticism has come from across politics and Jewish organisations, with Claire Coutinho calling the ban a disgrace and Keir Starmer’s office saying he was angered by the decision.
• Local decision-making is under scrutiny after reports that two SAG councillors had advocated action against the fixture before the ban and that Aston Villa had allowed stewards to request a one-off absence for the game.