what happened?
Last month, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from watching Thursday’s Europa League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park over safety concerns, prompting swift criticism from politicians including Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Israeli club subsequently announced in a statement that it would no longer sell tickets to fans for the match.
More than 700 police officers will be on duty, along with police horses, police dogs and a drone unit, as protests by various groups are planned for the day.
The decision to ban supporters was based on concerns by West Midlands Police about their ability to deal with potential protests related to the war between Israel and Gaza.
West Midlands Police said the match had been classified as “high risk” after carrying out a “thorough” assessment “including current information and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offenses, that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.
The British government said it was “doing everything in its power” to overturn the ban and ensure fans could attend matches safely.
On October 19, the Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off due to what police described as “public disorder and violent riot” in which 12 people and three police officers were injured.
The next day, Maccabi Tel Aviv issued a statement saying they would no longer sell supporter tickets for the Europa League match at Villa Park.
In response to Maccabi’s decision to refuse to sell tickets to fans, a British government spokesperson said in a statement that fans were “deeply saddened” by the decision.
Why did Maccabi Tel Aviv refuse to sell tickets to away fans?
Maccabi said in a statement: “The health and safety of our fans is our top priority and, given the hard lessons we have learned, we have taken the decision to decline the allocation offered on behalf of our away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.”
“I am hopeful that the situation will change and I am looking forward to playing in a sporting environment in Birmingham in the near future.”
This statement questioned the motives of those trying to justify the ban.
“We would like to thank the British government and police for their efforts in ensuring that both fans can safely attend the match, and we appreciate the messages of support from across the football community and society.”
“Our first team is made up of Muslim, Christian and Jewish players, and our fan base also cuts across ethnic and religious lines. We have also worked tirelessly to eradicate racism among the more extreme elements of our fan base.
“It is clear that various deep-rooted groups are trying to denigrate Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fan base, but most of them do not have any racist or hooliganistic track, and are exploiting isolated incidents for their own social and political purposes.
“As a result of these hateful falsehoods, a toxic atmosphere has been created and the safety of fans wishing to attend is in grave doubt.”
Why are there 700 police officers in Villa Park?
Police have issued a warning of chaos as more than 700 officers prepare to protect public safety and deal with crime and disorder.
People not attending the match have been warned to avoid the area as police expect “significant disruption”.
Birmingham Police Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said: “We are aware that there will be protests by a variety of groups on the day and our plans balance the right to protest with our duty to protect all communities in Birmingham.”
“Our goal through planning this match is to keep everyone in Birmingham safe while still allowing people to enjoy the game of football.”
Sky Sports News understands the school near Villa Park will close early from 12pm to 1pm ahead of the match.
Who banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans?
A statement from Aston Villa said the decision was “following instructions” from the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group (SAG) on advice from West Midlands Police.
The Safety Advisory Group is responsible for issuing match safety certificates.
However, the Government’s Health and Safety Executive’s website states that the Safety Advisory Group is “a non-statutory body and therefore has no legal powers or responsibilities and does not have the power to approve or prohibit the holding of events”.
The website adds: “Event organizers and others involved in the operation of an event have a primary legal obligation to ensure public safety.”
The UK Football Police Unit (UKFPU) was also involved in advising on the decision.
“The UKFPU has helped West Midlands Police access full details of past incidents in Amsterdam through the European Police Network, making all relevant information available to them,” it said in a statement.
“Following this, the Home Office was briefed by the UKFPU last week on potential issues and options that the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) may take, including restrictions on fan visits.”
What is the Safety Advisory Group?
The Birmingham Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is chaired by Birmingham City Council’s Head of Resilience and comprises representatives from local authorities, emergency services and event organizers.
The government’s Health and Safety Executive website says the SAG’s purpose is to “provide a forum for discussion and advice on public safety at events”.
It added: “SAG should advise event organizers of any public safety issues that require further consideration, explaining why. It is the event organizer’s responsibility to take appropriate action.”
Safety Advisory Groups are convened for events that pose a “significant risk to public safety in terms of the number and profile of participants, the nature of event activities or the environmental challenges.”
What happened in the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv?
The Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv will take place on 7 November 2024, West Midlands Police have announced.
Violent clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans erupted before the match, with more than 60 people arrested, four men given short prison sentences and another given a community service order.
Police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters to the metro after pro-Palestinian supporters march near Johan Cruyff Stadium
Five people were taken to hospital after riots broke out in several areas of the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam police and prosecutors said “anti-Semitic” mobs “actively sought out” Israeli supporters and attacked and assaulted them. Footage of fans pulling down Palestinian flags in central Amsterdam was posted online, and anti-Arab chants could be heard.
A report from the Amsterdam mayor’s office said the violence stemmed from a “toxic combination of anti-Semitism, hooliganism and anger” over the war between Israel and Gaza and other conflicts in the Middle East.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s next European “away” match against Besiktas on November 28 has been moved by UEFA to Debrecen in Hungary after Turkish authorities decided not to host the match in Turkey. Hungarian authorities decided to hold the match behind closed doors.
What was the main reaction to the ban from supporters?
West Midlands Police said: “We support the decision to ban away supporters from attending.”
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster then called on Birmingham City Council’s Safety Advisory Group and West Midlands Police to immediately review their decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from matches.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the decision, saying: “The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as a “national disgrace”.
Aston Villa said it was in “ongoing dialogue” with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities.
The Jewish Leadership Council, which works to protect British Jews, said: “It is wrong to exclude away fans from a football match because West Midlands Police cannot guarantee their safety.”
Birmingham-Perry-Barr independent MP Ayub Khan welcomed the news that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would not be allowed to attend matches.
Is there any precedent for a ban?
The decision to ban fans from attending UEFA matches due to safety concerns is unusual, but it has happened in the past.
Last season, French authorities ordered PSV Eindhoven not to bring supporters to their Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain.
PSV announced a “total travel ban” for supporters to “Paris and the city of Paris”, adding that the decision was “completely unexpected”.
According to a PSV statement, French police cited past incidents with supporters, including an incident against RC Lens in 2023.
Last season, Legia Warsaw fans were refused entry to Villa Park for a UEFA Conference League match after four police officers were injured in a clash with the Polish club’s fans.
The match was postponed and Villa manager said the decision had been taken to prevent Legia fans from entering the ground due to safety concerns.
Could Israeli clubs be expelled from European competitions?
Prior to this week’s ban, UEFA and FIFA faced calls to suspend Israel’s national team and club teams from international competitions due to the Gaza conflict.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was among those who called for the Israeli team to be banned. A United Nations advisory group of experts also said sports sanctions were necessary after a United Nations commission of inquiry said Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.
According to Sky News, discussions are taking place at the highest levels of European football, but no decisions have been made.
