Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch have condemned the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park. The club announced the move on Thursday, just 21 days before the Israeli side were due to visit their Premier League home for European action.
Villa Park’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has instructed the club that traveling fans will not be allowed to attend as away supporters. West Midlands Police cited past flashpoints, including scenes of violence between Ajax and Maccabi supporters last season, to justify the ban.
But the ruling has sparked outrage across political circles, with Starmer insisting police “need to ensure all football fans can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation”. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch went further, branding the decision a “national disgrace”.
The Prime Minister told X (formerly Twitter): “This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets.
“The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation.” Villa issued a statement confirming that away supporters will not be present for the group stage clash on November 6, following instructions from SAG.
“Aston Villa confirms that following instructions from the Safety Advisory Group, the club has been informed that away fans will not be able to attend the UEFA Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday 6 November,” the statement began. “The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is responsible for issuing safety certificates for all matches at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.
“Following a meeting this afternoon, SAG has formally written to clubs and UEFA informing them that away fans will not be allowed into Villa Park for this match. West Midlands Police have advised SAG that there are security concerns outside Stadium Bowl and that they have the capacity to deal with any protests that may occur that night.”
“The club is in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities throughout this ongoing process, and is keeping the safety of supporters attending matches and the safety of local residents at the forefront of all decisions.”
A representative for West Midlands Police supported the decision, confirming that the force continues to “firmly support all affected communities and always reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance towards hate crime”.
“West Midlands Police supports the decision to ban away supporters. This decision is based on current information and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime crimes, that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.”
“Based on our professional judgment, we believe this measure will help reduce the risk to public safety.”
