Concerns Raised Over Ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans at Villa Park Match
West Midlands police minutes from a 16 October safety advisory group meeting revealed concerns that banning away Maccabi Tel Aviv (MTA) fans from the 6 November match at Villa Park could be perceived as antisemitic. The ban was initially justified by authorities due to the high risk posed by MTA fans and potential community tensions, amid warnings of disorder and protest activity around the fixture.
The meeting noted a high risk of disorder and protest, though the overall match risk was considered medium if away fans were excluded. Attendees included two Birmingham councillors, Waseem Zaffar and Mumtaz Hussain, alongside five West Midlands police representatives; the majority of other attendees’ names were redacted.
Intelligence cited in the notes referenced violent incidents in Amsterdam in 2024 between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, including alleged anti-Muslim and anti-Gaza chants, as well as a claimed "national mobilisation of Muslim youths" travelling there. The notes also mentioned hit-and-run incidents targeting MTA fans, claims to which Dutch police expressed surprise.
The decision to ban the fans prompted public outcry and political scrutiny, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemning the move as wrong and suggesting it reflected antisemitism. In response, West Midlands police later apologised to Birmingham’s Jewish communities and clarified there was no explicit statement indicating Jews supported excluding MTA fans.
Further actions following the controversy included plans by the Home Affairs Committee to recall West Midlands police chief Craig Guildford to Parliament. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton and other officials were set to be questioned by MPs. Additionally, an independent governance review was scheduled to assess the handling of the situation.
