The Safety Advisory Group in Birmingham decided last week to block visiting supporters from the Europa League tie against Aston Villa on November 6, after a risk assessment by West Midlands Police. The government said it was disappointed that Maccabi Tel Aviv chose to decline any away‑fan allocation offered for the match.

In a statement published on Monday, the Israeli club said the safety and wellbeing of its supporters was its priority and that, in light of lessons learned, it would not accept away tickets, while leaving open the possibility of future play in Birmingham in a suitable sporting environment. The club also defended its fans as diverse and committed to opposing racism, and criticised what it described as attempts to malign the fan base for political ends.

Government officials emphasised the need to allow fans to attend matches safely and said they would not tolerate antisemitism or extremism. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told MPs that the final decision rests with the police, and questioned the initial risk assessment’s focus on fans’ Israeli/Jewish identity. West Midlands Police had labelled the fixture as high risk, citing prior incidents and hate crimes connected to a 2024 Europa League match in Amsterdam. The government noted ongoing discussions with Israeli authorities to understand any involvement by Maccabi supporters in disturbances, while Maccabi accused those behind the decision of distorting reality and warned that a ban against their fans could normalise exclusion.