British authorities said on Friday they were making efforts to overturn a ban preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League clash with Aston Villa next month.
The restriction, imposed due to safety concerns, has sparked strong backlash from politicians, sports bodies, and Jewish groups.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the police recommendation to exclude visiting fans from the November 6 match, calling it “the wrong decision.”
UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, also urged UK officials to ensure Israeli fans could safely attend the fixture.
“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,” the organization said in a statement.
Ian Murray, a minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said the government “will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue.”
He added that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy “will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there’s a way through this.”
In a statement, Aston Villa said police had informed the club of “public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.”
West Midlands Police described the November fixture at Villa Park in Birmingham as high risk, citing “current intelligence and previous incidents,” including violent clashes and hate crimes when Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in Amsterdam last season.
The decision drew swift condemnation from Starmer, who reiterated, “the role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
The upcoming game will be Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first away fixture in the Europa League since pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted in Thessaloniki, Greece, during their September 24 match against PAOK.
Around 120 fans of the Israeli side attended that game under tight police supervision.
Maccabi supporters were also involved in violent confrontations with local residents in Amsterdam last season during their encounter with Ajax.
UEFA had previously considered suspending Israeli clubs from its competitions, but that discussion was overtaken by the recent ceasefire in Gaza.
Reacting to the developments, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s chief executive, Jack Angelides, voiced deep concern about the broader implications of the ban.
“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,” he told the BBC.
