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Talks held to resolve ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa with Keir Starmer ‘angered’

Talks held to resolve ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer ‘angered’ by the decision.

Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have criticised a decision to ban supporters of Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on the 6th of November.

The decision, supported by West Midlands Police due to the match being classified as “high-risk,” was advised by the safety certificate issuing group for Villa Park.

Aston Villa is in ongoing discussions with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities, prioritizing safety. UEFA states that local authorities are responsible for match safety decisions.

POLICE STATEMENT:

West Midlands Police has a strong track record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events.

We are committed to delivering fair and impartial policing, while balancing the public’s right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.

Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as high risk.

We have actively engaged with a wide range of local partners and community representatives in preparation for this fixture, and continue to participate in the Safety Advisory Group.

While the Safety Certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.

This decision is 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.

Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.

We remain steadfast in our support all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms.

ASTON VILLA STATEMENT:

Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.

The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.

Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.

West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.

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.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying: “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.”

He has been left “angered” by the decision and has promised to do “everything in his power” to ensure all fans can go to the match.

The prime minister’s deputy spokesperson adds that while “of course it is an operational decision”, the government is “perfectly entitled” to speak out on issues of principle and fairness.

“Football has been a unifying force for decades, everyone should be able to attend a football match without fear of violence or intimidation, regardless of their religion, nationality or background,” the spokesperson says, as per BBC News.

“We cannot have a country where we have to tell people to stay away from an event because they can’t be protected or they may be a victim of racism.”

No 10 says ministers from across government have been urgently working to support police and the local authority to ensure all fans could enjoy the game.

The spokesperson adds that discussions began on Thursday night and are continuing and that further updates were expected later in the day.

UEFA have said that it wanted fans to be able to travel and support their team in a “safe, secure and welcoming environment”.

“(UEFA) encourages both teams and the competent authorities to agree on the implementation of appropriate measures necessary to allow this to happen,” UEFA said.

“In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the safety and security of matches taking place on their territory, such decisions being determined on the basis of thorough risk assessments, which vary from match to match and take into consideration previous circumstances.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Villa’s announcement as a “shameful decision”.

“I call on the UK authorities to reverse this coward decision,” Saar said on social media.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: The club’s CEO says there’s been “some dismay about what this potentially is signalling” while many of their supporters in Tel Aviv say the decision has been about “politics”.

Birmingham Safety Action Group: The group – which is made up of several professional authorities – says it will review its earlier decision if West Midlands Police changes its risk assessment for the match.

Birmingham City Council: The council leader, John Cotton, says Keir Starmer was right to call the Maccabi fan ban the “wrong decision”.

West Midlands Police: The force supports the ban, classifying the fixture as “high-risk”. The region’s police and crime commissioner, however, has asked to see the police assessment and requested an immediate review.

UK Football Policing Unit: The unit says it briefed the Home Office last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans.

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