Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Britain is working to
ensure Maccabi Tel Aviv fans can travel to Birmingham next month, reversing an
earlier ban.
In an earlier statement on Friday, a government spokesperson stated that the administration was collaborating with the police "to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present."
"Antisemitism is a stain on our society that shames us all. Every football fan, whoever they are, should be able to watch their team in safety,"
Mahmood said on X on Friday.
"This Government is doing everything in our power to ensure all fans can safely attend the game."
After West Midlands police voiced worries about possible disturbances outside the stadium, English soccer team Aston Villa said that away fans of Israeli team Maccabi, who were involved in violence in Amsterdam a year ago, would not be allowed to attend the Europa League match on November 6.
"Shameful" is how Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar characterized the statement.
"The wrong decision" was the post made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X.
"We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets,"
he wrote.
"The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation."
According to an official who spoke to Sky News on Friday, Culture Minister Lisa Nandy was scheduled to meet with authorities from the Interior Ministry to discuss finding a "way through" the prohibition.
A call for comment was not immediately answered by Maccabi. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have turned their attention on Israeli troops as tensions over the Gaza conflict have escalated.
More than 60 people were taken into custody in Amsterdam last November after altercations that broke out after a Maccabi vs. Ajax game.
Maccabi fans were chased and beaten by anti-Israeli gangs on scooters, according to the police. Five patients received hospital treatment.
According to police, supporters of Maccabi damaged a taxi, torched a Palestinian flag, and tore down another. Later, the mayor declared that she would not welcome Maccabi back.
Following the October 2 attack on a Manchester synagogue that claimed the lives of two Jewish worshippers, Starmer has made combating antisemitism a top priority. He promised additional cash on Thursday to defend Jewish communities, which had accused his Labour government of failing them.
"Well, I'm a bit surprised because we don't usually stop people from exercising their free will, I suppose,"
said soccer fan Jack Deathridge, who was speaking in Birmingham.
"But I mean, I see what they're trying to do because it's very true. It might not be safe for them because, you know, there is a lot of stigma at the moment."
Also on Friday, Britain's government failed in a bid to block a legal challenge from the founder of the pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action. The challenge relates to the government's decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws, a move that has angered free-speech campaigners.
How might this affect future matches involving foreign fans?
This instance establishes a precedent for increased
proactive, major security planning and resource allocation to control crowds
with various and politically sensitive backgrounds.
Police and local authorities may ramp up early intelligence collection and risk assessment, with special attention to conflicts or contentious political issues related to fan groups. More coordination between government, police, football clubs, and international governing bodies (UEFA, FIFA) will likely become common practice to reduce the likelihood of such and rash outcomes, such as outright bans.
Authorities may adopt more nuanced policies to avoid blanket bans and instead implement strict but non-exclusive crowd control policies to keep the community safe while avoiding exclusionary policies based on nationality or political issues.