Maccabi Tel Aviv fans faced a ban from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa, which took place on Thursday. This decision, prompted by safety concerns and unfounded fears related to potential protests about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, led the Israeli club to decline the ticket allocation made for visiting fans. In response to these heightened tensions, over 700 police officers were deployed to Villa Park, resulting in 11 arrests during the event.
The West Midlands Police conducted the operation at the fixture due to worries about their capacity to manage protests connected to the war in Gaza. Politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, expressed their displeasure regarding the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. Following this, the club announced its decision not to distribute tickets to its fans for the match at Villa Park.
In anticipation of potential unrest, the police planned extensively, coordinating with match officials on how to respond if any fans attempted to enter the playing field. Protests organized by various groups also occurred near Villa Park, with approximately 200 activists from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrating near the Trinity Road stand. They sought to rally support for the exclusion of Israel from international football, bringing Palestinian flags and banners that promoted a boycott against Israel to highlight their cause.
As part of the demonstrations, five flatbed trucks drove by the stadium displaying electronic billboards with anti-antisemitism messages. One billboard featured a Star of David alongside the statement “Ban hatred not fans,” while another conveyed a quote from former footballer Thierry Henry, emphasizing football’s role in fostering unity rather than merely scoring goals.
In a contrasting stance, a small group of around 40 counter-protesters, including one waving an Israeli flag, rallied on a nearby basketball court, vocalizing their opposition to the exclusion of Maccabi fans. The Reverend Tim Gutmann, the founder of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, addressed the assembly, describing the protest as a response to ongoing historical hatred and urging for unity against prejudice. He emphasized that it’s crucial to prevent the development of no-go zones for Israeli fans and Jewish individuals within sporting events.
Among the Aston Villa supporters, Adam Selway arrived wearing a scarf that represented both his home team and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He expressed sympathy for the fans barred from attending, asserting that this issue should be about football, not politics. Selway insisted that the Villa fans were welcoming towards their counterparts and desired their presence at the match.
Aston Villa released a statement clarifying that the decision to restrict away supporters came as a directive from Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which was guided by West Midlands Police’s recommendations. It’s important to note that SAGs are non-statutory and do not possess legal authority to enforce such prohibitions; the responsibility for ensuring public safety during matches lies primarily with event organizers.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) played a pivotal role in providing insight into past incidents involving Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, which further informed the advisory processes leading to the match-day decisions. The UKFPU communicated with the Home Office, updating them on potential risks and the steps the Safety Advisory Group might undertake, including restrictions on visiting fans.
In their statement, Maccabi Tel Aviv highlighted their commitment to the safety and well-being of their supporters. They referenced past experiences that led to their decision to decline tickets for the match, stressing that this choice was made solely out of a desire to protect their fans. The club expressed hope for improved conditions that would allow them to compete in Birmingham under a safe and supportive environment in the future.
Maccabi said in a statement: “The well-being and safety of our fans is paramount and, from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans, and our decision should be understood in that context.
“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
The statement questioned the motives of those seeking to justify the ban.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the UK government and police to ensure both sets of fans can attend the match safely, and are grateful for the messages of support from across the footballing community and society at large,” said the club.
“Our first-team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide. We have also been working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base.
“It is clear that various entrenched groups seek to malign the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base, most of whom have no truck with racism or hooliganism of any kind, and are exploiting isolated incidents for their own social and political ends.
“As a result of the hate-filled falsehoods, a toxic atmosphere has been created, which makes the safety of our fans wishing to attend very much in doubt.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv also raised concerns about those justifying the ban, asserting that various entrenched groups were attempting to tarnish the image of their fan base. They emphasized that their supporters, who include Muslim, Christian, and Jewish players, along with a diverse fan community, are committed to rejecting racism and hooliganism. The club stated that the propagation of hateful falsehoods has cultivated a toxic atmosphere, casting doubt on the safety of their fans wishing to attend the match.
Eleven people, all men or boys, were arrested in the area:
- A 63-year-old man arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence after he was heard shouting racist abuse during a road rage incident near Villa Park
- A 21-year-old man arrested after refusing to remove a face covering while a Section 60 order was in place
- A 17-year-old who was issued with a dispersal order but refused to leave
- A 34-year-old arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators
- A 29-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators. He was also arrested for possession of class B drugs
- A 67-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse at a police officer
- A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse towards a pro-Palestine group
- A man aged 21 arrested after trying to throw fireworks into the ground
- A man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.
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