Police urged to reverse decision amid fury at ban on Israeli fans

The Home Office is offering extra support to West Midlands police in a bid to reverse its ban on fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv attending a match at Villa Park next month.

- Rowena Mason Kiran Stacey

After a political outcry about the police decision that would stop Israeli fans going to the match, Downing Street said yesterday that discussions were happening “at pace across government” to resolve the issue.

West Midlands police had said the force would not be able to police the Aston Villa match safely, citing “violent clashes and hate crime offences” at a previous Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam in 2024.

However, the force and its safety advisory group are now expected to come forward with proposals early next week about what support and extra resources they would need to allow the match to go ahead safely with fans from both sides.

After a day of talks between the parties, 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.”

West Midlands police had classified the Aston Villa home fixture as “high-risk” based on intelligence. The force also cited violence that occurred during a 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam.

Keir Starmer and the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, condemned the ban, saying it was wrong for the Israeli team's fans to be excluded. Starmer said: “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.”