'Wrong' to block Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa match, says PM

The match will take place at Birmingham's Villa Park in November

Blocking Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending an Aston Villa match is the "wrong decision", the prime minister has said.

Followers of the Israeli team will not be allowed to attend the Europa League match between the sides on 6 November because of safety concerns, the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches said on Thursday.

Sir Keir Starmer criticised the move, saying "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets" and that the role of police was "to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation".

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded the decision a "national disgrace" and suggested Sir Keir should act to reverse it.

She wrote on X that Starmer should "guarantee that Jewish fans can walk into any football stadium in this country".

"If not, it sends a horrendous and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot go."

West Midlands Police said the game had been classified as high risk and that it had concerns about its ability to deal with potential protests at the match at Villa Park.

It said this was based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including "violent clashes and hate crime offences" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in Amsterdam in November 2024.

More than 60 people were arrested over the violence which city officials described as a "toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger" over the war in Gaza, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.

The Safety Advisory Group, which issues safety certificates for matches, told Aston Villa that no travelling fans would be permitted at the match in Birmingham.

Aston Villa said it was in "continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities," with the safety of supporters and local residents "at the forefront of any decision".

Football's European governing body Uefa said it wanted fans to be able to travel and support their team in a "safe, secure and welcoming environment".

Uefa told Reuters: "In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the safety and security of matches taking place on their territory."

Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, welcomed the decision: "From the moment that the match was announced, it was clear that there were latent safety risks that even our capable security and police authorities would not be able to fully manage."

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the decision "shameful" and urged officials to reverse it.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was "a serious mistake," adding: "You don't tackle antisemitism by banning its victims. This decision must be reversed."

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the move "takes racial discrimination to a whole new level".

Various sporting events have seen protests over the war in Gaza, including when Israel's national team played Norway and Italy in recent World Cup qualifiers.

Earlier on Thursday, the prime minister said it was his "responsibility" to address how many in the Jewish community were feeling "insecure and unsafe", particularly after the attack at a Manchester synagogue in early October that killed two men.

During a visit to the Community Security Trust (CST) - a charity that provides security at Jewish sites such as synagogues and schools - he told Jewish News: "We have heard loud and clear in the last few days and weeks that words are not enough. Action is what matters, and we're absolutely committed to that."