West Midlands Police have reaffirmed their decision to ban fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the upcoming UEFA Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
Despite political backlash and pressure from pro-Israel groups, the original safety-based decision remains unchanged for the game next Thursday, 6 November.
Behind the scenes, a multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (SAG) met to assess risks, with West Midlands Police presenting intelligence that led the group to uphold its position. Officials maintained that the decision was rooted solely in public safety concerns, not discrimination.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Partners agreed with the police assessment that the match was high risk. To support public safety and reduce risk to the lowest possible level, the SAG advised on options that would minimise significant public safety impacts, including no away fans attending.”
Chief Constable Craig Guildford also defended the call, stating: “I’ve read some of the intelligence that’s been received and the assessment that’s been made. It’s based on professional judgement.”
Intelligence behind the decision
The intelligence reports underpinning the decision cited concerns that large numbers of extreme Maccabi fans — known for involvement in previous violence and racist taunts — were expected to travel to Birmingham regardless of ticket availability.
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The move to bar away fans initially sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the decision “wrong,” while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and several Jewish community leaders urged a review. The Campaign Against Antisemitism threatened legal action, and former West Midlands Police chief Matt Shaer labelled the ban “embarrassing.”
Recent events have reinforced those concerns. The Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv was postponed after pre-match disturbances at Bloomfield Stadium. Police called off the match due to unsafe conditions following the extensive use of pyrotechnics, including fireworks and smoke grenades. Both fans and officers were reportedly injured.
Dutch police have also flagged Maccabi fans for inciting violence during a match in Amsterdam, including racist chanting and random attacks on Muslims. These incidents reportedly triggered reprisal attacks on Dutch Jews and prompted a large-scale police operation.
Community concerns in Birmingham
West Midlands Police noted that some Jewish residents had raised concerns about the reputational harm and potential unrest the fans might bring. Intelligence indicated that the presence of Maccabi supporters could trigger counter-demonstrations involving pro-Palestinian activists, anti-racism groups, pro-Israel supporters, and far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson.
In light of the escalating tensions, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced they would not take up an away fan allocation even if the ban were lifted. In a public statement, the club said: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount. We have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans.”
They added: “We hope circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
While some critics attempted to pin the decision on two local councillors, Waseem Zaffar and Mumtaz Hussain, both were absent from the final SAG meeting. Zaffar was unavailable, and Hussain was asked to leave before discussions began due to a potential conflict of interest.
Cllr Hussain had previously lobbied for Maccabi Tel Aviv’s exclusion from the Europa League in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, while Cllr Zaffar had said he would boycott the game, arguing that the club should not be allowed to play.
Although their earlier comments drew attention, their absence from the final decision was intended to preserve the SAG’s impartiality.
Safety group and final outcome
The Safety Advisory Group is one of several multi-agency bodies in Birmingham tasked with evaluating major events. Comprising representatives from emergency services, local government, healthcare, transport, and other key sectors, the SAG provides guidance on crowd capacity, security protocols, and potential restrictions.
In this case, West Midlands Police assessed that Aston Villa fans posed a low or manageable risk, while Maccabi fans presented a high risk.
One option under consideration was to play the match behind closed doors, though this was ultimately rejected.
In a final statement, West Midlands Police confirmed:
“Our risk assessment has not changed and neither has our advice to the SAG.”
The UEFA Europa League fixture will go ahead at Villa Park without away fans in attendance.
Local authorities continue to emphasise that public safety remains their overriding priority amid ongoing controversy.
