Government ‘doing everything’ to overturn Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban

The government has stated that it will use “everything in our power” to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending a game in Birmingham and is looking into possible additional resources.

Aston Villa stated on Thursday that due to safety concerns, the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) had recommended that Israeli club fans not be permitted to attend the Europa League game on November 6.

The government said it was working with the police and looking into what additional resources were needed in response to mounting pressure to resolve the situation.

A government spokesman said, “No one should be prevented from watching a football game by virtue of their appearance.”

They added that the government was working with authorities to “safely go ahead with all fans present” in cooperation with police and other entities.

Following the announcement on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer criticized the decision to restrict fans’ attendance as “wrong,” saying that “we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.” Other party leaders also expressed their disapproval.

If West Midlands Police alters its risk assessment for the match, according to Birmingham City Council, the SAG, which advises the council on whether to issue safety certificates, will review the decision.

According to current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crimes committed by Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a game in Amsterdam in November 2024, West Midlands Police declared the game to be “high risk” on Thursday.

More than 60 people were detained for the violence, which was described by city officials as a “toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” over the Middle East war in Gaza, Israel, and elsewhere in the region.

Officials were informed last week that restrictions on visiting fans might be put in place, but the BBC is aware that the Home Office did not.

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, was left with “serious questions to answer” about why her department did nothing to “avert the ban,” according to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

She remarked, “This is a weak government that doesn’t take necessary action.”

This is categorically untrue, according to a source close to Mahmood, according to a source close to Mahmood.

The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, as well as Israeli government officials, have also criticised the decision.

The Green Party supported the decision, claiming that Starmer had made an irresponsible decision regarding a local authority’s safety decision.

The decision to ban fans was a “moral question,” according to Ayoub Khan, an independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr who campaigned on a pro-Gaza platform in the previous year’s general election.

Khan said that the same rules that apply to “Russian football teams that have been banned from European competitions because of their atrocities in Ukraine” should also apply to “Israeli football teams.”

Khan, who also raised concerns about safety and public order, said the fans should not be permitted to attend despite West Midlands Police receiving more resources last year because of the violence in Amsterdam.

British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, who was held hostage in Gaza and released in January, expressed her shock and shock at the outrageous choice.

Protests against the war in Gaza have occurred at a number of sporting events, including recent World Cup qualifiers.

22 people were detained earlier this month in Oslo near the Ullevaal Stadium during Israel’s home game against Norway. According to reports, tear gas was used after several demonstrators broke through police barriers.

In the city of Udine, where about 5, 000 protesters marched ahead of the game, Israel’s national team’s next qualifier against Italy was held a few days later. Numerous people were detained as a result of police clashes.