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

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

She wrote on X that the prime minister 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 decision to prohibit visiting supporters had been 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.

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.”

Chaired by Birmingham City Council’s head of resilience, the Safety Advisory Group is made up of officials from the local authority, emergency responders – including the police – and event organisers.

According to the council website, its role is to offer advice and guidance regarding public health and safety at events, including to “reduce any negative impact”, but it isn’t able to approve or reject them.

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.”

The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “perverse” that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were blocked from attending the match, and called for it to be played behind closed doors.

“Aston Villa should face the consequences of this decision,” it said on X.

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”.

Baroness Luciana Berger, a former Labour MP who quit the party in 2019 over its handling of antisemitism allegations, before rejoining in 2023, said Birmingham’s ability to host “forthcoming major international events” should be reviewed if the police and council were unable to guarantee safety for a singular football match.

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.”