Fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv will be banned from attending the Europa League game at Aston Villa on November 6th for safety reasons.
Great Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the exclusion. “This is the wrong decision”wrote the 63-year-old politician on Portal X. “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets.”
It is the police’s job to “To ensure that all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister: “Shameful decision”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar spoke of a “shameful decision” and called on the British government to revise it.
The instruction to exclude came from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which is responsible for issuing safety certificates for every game at Villa Park, said the English club from Birmingham.
The Premier League club and the European Football Union UEFA were informed of the decision on Thursday afternoon (October 16, 2025) that no away fans would be admitted.
The West Midlands Police have concerns about public safety outside the stadium as possible protests are expected.
Aston Villa’s statement reads: “The club is in constant dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout the entire process. The safety of fans and local residents is the top priority in all decisions.”
There is still no reaction from UEFA to the decision.
More fighting in the Gaza Strip
In football, but also in other sports, there have been repeated pro-Palestinian protests at sporting events with Israeli participation. The background is the Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip.
Even after the agreement between Israel and the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas on a ceasefire, things have not completely calmed down.