Aston Villa have been told that no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be allowed to attend their Europa League match by the Safety Advisory Group.West Midlands Police expressed concerns over its ability to de...
Aston Villa have been told that no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be allowed to attend their Europa League match by the Safety Advisory Group.
West Midlands Police expressed concerns over its ability to deal with potential protests outside the stadium when the two sides meet at Villa Park on November 6 2025, as per a statement on the Premier League club’s website.
The SAG is responsible for issuing safety certificates at sports fixtures, among other events, and communicated to Villa that the Israeli side’s away fans will not be allowed to enter the stadium.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police cited violent clashes and hate crimes reported at Ajax’s game against the Israeli side in Amsterdam last year – labelled as toxic combination of “antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” by they city’s officials – as a cause for concern regarding the match.
They said: “Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
“While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.”
Ayoub Khan, the local independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, called for the match to either be called off or played behind closed doors in response to the scenes in Amsterdam.
Israel’s government spokesperson told LBC that the situation represents an ‘extremely sad state of affairs’.
A ceasefire in Gaza was declared on October 10, prompting the release of hostages by both Israel and Hamas.
Aston Villa added that they are in constant communication with Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and the local authorities, assuring that the safety of supporters and local residents “is at the forefront of any decision”.
Maccabi Tel Aviv currently sit second in the Israeli Premier League and are yet to lose a league match, yet lie towards the bottom of the Europa League table with one point following a goalless draw with Greek side PAOK.
Villa, on the other hand, sit third with two wins from two and will look to extend their 100% record against Tel Aviv – with only the home fans in attendance.
Category: General Sports
