Keir Starmer has publicly criticized the decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham. The match, scheduled for November 6, has been classified as "high risk" by West Midlands Police, leading to the decision to prohibit away fans.
Starmer voiced his disapproval, stating, "This is the wrong decision. 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".
The decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans stems from concerns about potential unrest and security risks. West Midlands Police cited "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" as factors influencing their assessment. Reports from the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match detail incidents involving Maccabi fans tearing down and burning a Palestinian flag, shouting offensive slurs, and vandalizing property. After the match, numerous "hit-and-run" assaults on Maccabi fans resulted in injuries and arrests.
The ban has triggered a wave of reactions from political figures and organizations. Kemi Badenoch, a leader of the opposition, called the decision a "national disgrace" and challenged Starmer to "guarantee that Jewish fans can walk into any football stadium in this country". Badenoch further stated that the ban sends "a horrendous and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot go".
The Jewish Leadership Council also condemned the decision, calling it "perverse that away fans should be banned from a football match because West Midlands Police can't guarantee their safety". The council suggested that Aston Villa should face consequences, proposing the match be played behind closed doors. The Campaign Against Antisemitism echoed these concerns, stating it was "another alarming sign of how British authorities are failing to ensure that Jews can participate safely and equally in public life". They criticized the response as excluding the victims instead of confronting antisemitism.
Gideon Sa’ar, Israel's foreign minister, described the ban as a "shameful decision" that should be reversed. In contrast, Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, welcomed the decision, citing "so much hostility and uncertainty around the match". Khan stated that the ban was the "only right to take drastic measures" due to "latent safety risks".
Aston Villa stated that the local safety advisory group instructed the club that no away fans would be permitted. The club added, "The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision".
West Midlands Police stated they remain "steadfast in our support of all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms". Birmingham City Council said that the decision to restrict away fan attendance was a "collective decision" made after a "multi-agency meeting" and "thorough review".
