The city of Birmingham is finding itself at the center of a heated debate after West Midlands Police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their team’s upcoming Europa League clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6, 2025. The decision, rooted in security concerns and fears of unrest, has drawn swift and widespread condemnation from political leaders, football authorities, and supporters’ groups across the United Kingdom and beyond.
West Midlands Police justified the ban by citing “public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.” The force classified the match as high risk, referencing “current intelligence and previous incidents,” most notably violent clashes and hate crime offenses during a 2024 Europa League fixture between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam. That night, dozens were arrested, five people were hospitalized, and the violence was condemned as antisemitic by Dutch authorities. The memory of those scenes, combined with the current climate of heightened tensions following the war in Gaza and a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this month, led local authorities to take an unprecedented step.
Fan bans, while not unheard of in European football, are rare and typically reserved for fixtures where there is a history of violence between rival supporters. In this case, there is no such history between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Instead, the decision appears to be a reaction to broader security concerns and the potential for pro-Palestinian protests, which have become increasingly visible at football matches involving Israeli teams across Europe. Just last month, about 120 Maccabi fans were held behind a police cordon before entering the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, where pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place as the team faced PAOK in the Europa League.
The ban has triggered an outcry at the highest levels of government. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer didn’t mince words, stating publicly, “the police recommendation to bar the visiting team’s fans from the Nov. 6 game was the wrong decision.” He emphasized, “the role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.” Starmer’s spokesperson, Geraint Ellis, reinforced the message, noting that “the prime minister has been angered by the decision” and that the government was “working urgently to overturn it.”
Simon Foster, the elected official responsible for police oversight in Birmingham, called for an “immediate review” of the ban, urging authorities to “convene a special SAG at the earliest possible opportunity” to reconsider the decision. Birmingham’s Mayor, Richard Parker, echoed these sentiments, calling for “a workable solution” and suggesting that the government might step in to cover additional policing costs if necessary.
The controversy has also drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Culture Minister Ian Murray told the BBC that the ban “sends the wrong message” that people could be excluded from public events “if you’re of the wrong race, religion or creed.” Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch went even further, branding the decision a “national disgrace.”
Football’s governing bodies have weighed in, too. UEFA, which oversees the Europa League, urged British authorities to ensure that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans could attend the Villa Park fixture. In a statement, UEFA declared, “UEFA wants fans to be able to travel and support their team in a safe, secure and welcoming environment, and encourages both teams and the competent authorities to agree on the implementation of appropriate measures necessary to allow this to happen.” Football Supporters Europe, an advisory group recognized by UEFA, also voiced opposition to blanket bans on away fans, warning that such measures “create additional risk by not offering a controlled and secured environment inside the stadium.”
For Maccabi Tel Aviv, the ban is a bitter pill to swallow. Chief executive Jack Angelides expressed “dismay about what this potentially is signaling.” He told the BBC, “I don’t use this term lightly but people ask, ‘What does antisemitism look like?’ And it’s often manifested as part of a process … in other words small events leading up to something that’s more sinister.” Angelides pointed out that the team had previously traveled to countries with far less favorable attitudes toward Israeli teams, such as Turkey, and that local police “were out in force” with no incidents occurring.
Supporters, too, have been vocal in their frustration and outrage. Emily Damari, a British Israeli dual national who was held captive by Hamas for more than a year before her release in January and who supports both Maccabi and Tottenham Hotspur, condemned the ban in no uncertain terms. “Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, color or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite,” she said. “Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and reconsider.” Damari later described the move as “outrageous,” questioning, “I do wonder what exactly has become of UK society. This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying: ‘No Jews allowed’.”
Andrew Fox, honorary president of the Aston Villa Jewish Villans supporters’ club and a retired British Army major, dismissed the ban as “a political message rather than a safety message.” He argued there was no evidence of Maccabi fans being particularly violent or having “a track record in all of their previous European games of having a violent fan group.”
In the days leading up to the match, the British government has promised to work “with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.” Senior officials, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Home Office representatives, were set to meet to discuss possible solutions, including the provision of extra resources for policing and crowd management.
The wider context cannot be ignored. Antisemitic incidents in the UK have soared to record levels since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Earlier this month, a synagogue was targeted in a car and knife attack that left two congregants dead, contributing to a climate of fear and heightened vigilance around public events involving Jewish communities.
Across Europe, matches involving Israeli teams have been subject to extraordinary security measures. In Italy, a recent World Cup qualifier between Italy and Israel was classified as high risk, with snipers posted on stadium rooftops, police using water cannon and tear gas to disperse masked protesters, and a heavy police presence both inside and outside the venue. About 10,000 people attended a pro-Palestinian march in the city earlier that day.
As the November 6 fixture approaches, the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans remains under review, with mounting pressure on Birmingham’s authorities to find a solution that balances public safety with the fundamental rights of supporters to attend and enjoy football. The eyes of the football world are now firmly fixed on Villa Park, waiting to see whether a compromise can be reached that keeps both the game and its spirit alive.
