Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have spoken out about Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being barred from visiting Villa Park next month
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer(Image: PA)
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the decision to block Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending next month's Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, calling it “the wrong decision.”
Fans of the Israeli club will not be allowed to attend the fixture on Thursday, November 6, with the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for football matches citing safety concerns.
Sir Keir said that the police’s responsibility is “to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation,” adding, “we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also condemned the ruling, describing it as a “national disgrace” and urging the prime minister to intervene.
Writing on X, she said Sir Keir 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 match had been classified as "high risk" following a "thorough assessment." They added that the decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
Villa released a statement saying: "Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.
"The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.
"Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG has formally written to the club and UEFA to advise that no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.
"West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and regarding the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.
"The club is in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision."
West Midlands Police said in a statement: "West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending. This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
"Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety. We remain steadfast in our support of all affected communities and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms."
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