The Home Office faces backlash after reports that Israel’s
Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters may be barred from a Europa League match at Aston
Villa Stadium.
After denouncing the action as the "wrong decision" in a significant government intervention, Sir Keir Starmer said he would do "everything in his power" to reverse the ban, according to his spokesperson.
Jewish communities have expressed indignation over the news that Israeli supporters will not be allowed to attend the team's match in Birmingham on November 6th because of concerns about violence.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the action taken by council leaders in Birmingham a "shameful decision," while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it a "national disgrace."
The government is now anticipating that West Midlands Police will present ideas for the resources required to ensure that every football fan can attend the game in safety.
However, politicians now have new questions after it was revealed that experts from the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) warned the Home Office as early as last week about the safety concerns and potential bans on fans attending Villa Park.
It was "important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions," according to senior officers at the unit, who supported the prohibition.
Ms Badenoch said the home secretary had “serious questions to answer” for not taking immediate action, adding:
“This is a weak government that fails to act when required.
Now we learn the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, knew Jewish football fans were being banned from a UK stadium, and did nothing.”
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," West Midlands Police said they had deemed the Aston Villa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match to be high risk.
Last year, during the Europa League match between Dutch club Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam, violent altercations broke out between Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian protesters.
More than 60 people were arrested during the riots, which led to charges of intentional antisemitic attacks, and five men received prison sentences.
According to his spokeswoman, Sir Keir and his top ministers were making every effort to "find a way through" that would enable traveling Maccabi supporters to attend the game.
However, Birmingham City Council insisted the decision to ban Maccabi fans would not be reviewed unless there was a change in the risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police.
In an update on Friday evening, a council spokesperson said:
“The SAG has made a decision based on a risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police.
If there is a change in the assessment of risk in the forthcoming match between Aston Villa Football Club and Maccabi Tel Aviv, then the SAG will commit to review its decision as appropriate.”
Discussions to lift the restriction include a phone call between Birmingham City Council and Communities Secretary Steve Reed, as well as offers of assistance from the Home Office to Birmingham police.
A representative for No. 10 stated that Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, is "meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try to find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely."
The prime minister was left “angered by the decision”, his spokesperson said, adding:
“While of course this is an operational decision, we are perfectly entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this.”
Sir Keir first slammed the decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “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.”
Simon Foster, the police and crime commissioner for West Midlands, was one of the people who demanded that the ban be reviewed "immediately."
The Europa League's governing body, Uefa, also asked UK officials to ensure that supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv could travel to Birmingham to see the game.
The decision to bar Israeli supporters from attending a game against Aston Villa was deemed "outrageous" by Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was detained by Hamas for almost a year before being freed in January and who supports both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tottenham Hotspur.
She said:
“I am shocked to my core with this outrageous decision to ban me, my family and my friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the UK.
Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite.
Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and reconsider.”
Citing past altercations in Amsterdam, West Midlands Police stated that it supports the decision to prohibit Israeli fans, even though Birmingham City Council has the final say over whether to give a safety certificate.
During the team's 2024 match against Ajax, Maccabi supporters were seen yelling in Hebrew,
"Olé, olé, let the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] win, we will f*** the Arabs,"
and blowing off flares and pyrotechnics in social media videos.
Maccabi supporters reportedly chanted that there were "no children" left in Gaza. Four rioters were handed brief jail sentences for the violence, which included "hit and run" attacks on Maccabi supporters.
A government spokesperson said:
“No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are.
The government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.
We are exploring what additional resources and support are required so all fans can attend.”
What steps is the government offering to lift the restriction?
The government of the United Kingdom is considering the
offer of extra resources and police support to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to
attend the Europa League match against Aston Villa regardless of the previous
safety concerns which led to the ban.
There have been meetings primarily between the Home Office, West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council about how to ensure safety and public order at the match.