MPs quiz police over Maccabi-Villa match fan ban

Pro-Palestine supporters have displayed banners over the A38 (M) main route into Birmingham, ahead of Thursday's match

A police force preparing to mount a major operation for the Maccabi Tel Aviv match against Aston Villa has been asked by MPs to explain its decision to ban away fans from attending.

More than 700 officers will be on the streets of Birmingham for Thursday's Uefa Europa League match amid expected protests, alongside police horses, dogs, drones and roads units.

The Home Affairs Committee has now written to West Midlands (WMP) Chief Constable Craig Guildford and police commissioner Simon Foster, over the ban.

WMP has said it was known protests would take place around Villa Park on Thursday. Mr Foster's office said he wasn't involved in the risk assessment and took no part in the decision.

The BBC understands there will be two pro-Palestine protests in Birmingham on Thursday, but details about any counter-protests have not yet emerged.

A Maccabi Solidarity Rally has also been organised to coincide with the match.

Police will be using Section 60 powers in an area stretching from Aston and Perry Barr to Birmingham New Street and the city centre, from midday on Thursday until 03:00 GMT on Friday.

Section 60 powers allow officers to stop and search people without the need for "reasonable grounds", in a move used when senior officers believe serious violence may take place - or after a violent incident has happened.

Last month, the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the match became the focus of parliamentary-level debate.

The Israeli club later said supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.

After the ban was imposed, it emerged WMP had classified the fixture "high risk", citing "violent clashes and hate crime offences" during a November 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Amsterdam.

Pro-Palestine petition

Home Affairs Select Committee chair Dame Karen Bradley MP said the ban followed a risk assessment by the force to Birmingham City Council's safety advisory group.

She asked how WMP assessed the disorder in Amsterdam, what options were considered for policing Thursday's match, and whether a "bubble" was considered for away-fans.

The letter also queries with the force as to whether it thought Maccabi fans were likely to be victims of antisemitism, and "to what extent did resource constraints mean that WMP felt they were unable to police the fixture effectively" if they were allowed to attend.

Dame Karen also asked whether campaigning about the fixture, including a petition by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, affected the police assessment.

She queried whether the force was able to consider additional options following the offer of government support.

WMP was asked to provide a copy of the risk assessment and to state whether it will review its footballing operation.

The BBC has also asked to see the risk assessment made.

Police said they were balancing the right to protest with keeping communities safe

On Monday, the force set out details of the "significant" policing operation that would accompany the match.

Birmingham police commander Ch Supt Tom Joyce said the force had worked with partners including the council, Aston Villa Football Club and other emergency services.

He said the force had plans in place which balanced the right to protest with its duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.

"Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with directly, as will those who incite hate," he said.