Keir Starmer is mobilising the Government to try to overturn the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a football game against Aston Villa in Birmingham, Downing Street has said
Ministers are doing “everything in our power” to let Israeli fans attend a game in Birmingham next month, the Home Secretary has said.
It is understood that the Government expects West Midlands Police to spell out what extra resources it needs to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend a Europa League match against Aston Villa.
Senior Government figures were locked in meetings today to reverse the ban, which Keir Starmer branded the “wrong decision”. He tweeted: “The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Antisemitism is a stain on our society that shames us all. Every football fan, whoever they are, should be able to watch their team in safety. This Government is doing everything in our power to ensure all fans can safely attend the game.”
Tonight, a Government spokesperson said: “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are. The Government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.
“We are exploring what additional resources and support are required so all fans can attend.”
The match was classified as high risk by West Midlands Police based “current intelligence and previous incidents”, including violent clashes and hate crime offences at a Europa League game against Ajax in Amsterdam last year.
Dutch police said that fans tore down a Palestinian flag, shouted “f*** you, Palestine” and other anti-Arab slogans, and vandalised taxis. After the match there were a number of attacks on Tel Aviv supporters.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister will do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve and, as he has made clear, we think this is the wrong decision. Like everyone seeing this news, the PM has been angered by the decision.
“Football has been a unifying force for decades and everyone should be able to attend a football match without fear of violence or intimidation regardless of their religion, nationality or background. We should not have a country where we have to tell people to stay away from certain events because we cannot protect them, or they may be a victim of racism.
“This Government will everything in its power to heal society and tackle divisions. We want a Britain built for all and we will never tolerate antisemitism on the streets.
“While of course this is an operational decision, we are perfectly entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this. Ministers across Government have been urgently working to support the police and local authority to ensure all fans can enjoy the game safely.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Communities Secretary Steve Reed were among those in Government who are working to reverse Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group’s (SAG) decision.
Simon Foster, police and crime commissioner in the West Midlands, called for an “immediate review” of the decision. He said his “top priority” is the safety and security of all people in the area, adding: “The purpose of my request for a review is to enable the SAG and WMP to determine whether or not this decision and recommendation is appropriate, necessary, justified, reasonable and a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.”
Mr Foster said he had requested sight of the relevant documentation to “satisfy myself” as to whether the decision was appropriate and justified.
Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held captive by Hamas for more than a year, and who supports Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tottenham, said the decision was “outrageous”. She said: “Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite. Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and reconsider.”
Honorary president of Aston Villa Jewish Villans supporters’ club, Andrew Fox, said the decision to stop Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the club’s Europa League match in Birmingham sends a “really worrying message” about British society.
Chief executive of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jack Angelides, said he did not take security issues lightly but said the team has travelled to places like Turkey where sentiment is “not so kind towards Israeli teams” but the police “were out in force” and there were no incidents.
In a statement on Thursday, Villa said the SAG had “formally written to the club and Uefa to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend” the fixture. The club statement said the SAG is responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of “physical and safety factors”.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the fixture had been classified as high risk 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”.
The force pointed to violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
The UK Football Policing Unit, which is made up of senior officers and advises forces in England and Wales on security at matches, backed the decision to ban fans.
It said West Midlands Police and officials from Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group would be “held responsible” if there were any “adverse incidents”, adding the Home Office was “briefed last week” about potential issues with away fans.
Independent and Green politicians backed the ban on Israeli fans and also called for a sporting boycott of the country. Deputy leader of the Green Party Mothin Ali said: “Under normal circumstances, supporters from across the fan base should be allowed to attend and provision taken to ban violent elements, such as the ultras.
“But these are not normal circumstances: these games are taking place in the context of thousands of civilians being killed in Gaza, the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and the upholding of a system of apartheid.”