Overview
- Aston Villa said on October 16 that Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters will not be admitted for the November 6 Europa League game at Villa Park, following advice from Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group.
- West Midlands Police classified the fixture as high risk based on recent intelligence and last year’s Ajax–Maccabi violence in Amsterdam, and police chief Simon Foster asked to re-examine the ruling with the SAG.
- The UK government stated it is working with law enforcement on additional resources to stage the match safely with away fans present, while UEFA urged parties to agree measures that allow secure supporter travel.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move a bad decision and condemned antisemitism, and Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar urged UK authorities to reverse the ban.
- The debate unfolds in a heightened security climate following the October 2 attack on a Manchester synagogue, which has intensified concerns for Jewish community safety.