Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv confirmed they will reject any ticket allocation from Aston Villa, even if officials lift the current fan ban for next month’s Europa League game.
Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) ruled last week that no Maccabi supporters could attend the November 6 match in the city. The group cited safety concerns following intelligence reports and recent disturbances involving Maccabi fans in Europe.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy later condemned the ban and vowed to “find the resources” to allow fans to attend. However, Maccabi announced they would not send supporters due to security fears and what they described as “a toxic atmosphere” surrounding the fixture.
Club Cites Safety Concerns and Urges Respect
In an official statement, Maccabi Tel Aviv stressed fan safety as their top priority. “The safety and wellbeing of our supporters remain paramount,” the club said. “Given recent events, we have decided to decline any away ticket allocation offered. This decision follows hard lessons learned from previous experiences.”
The club expressed hope that the situation in Birmingham would improve, adding, “We look forward to returning to play in a positive and respectful environment.”
A UK government spokesperson said they were “deeply saddened” by Maccabi’s decision but respected the club’s right to withdraw. “It is unacceptable that this match has been weaponised to stir division and fear,” the spokesperson added. “Our goal remains clear: football fans should enjoy matches free from intimidation or violence.”
Rising Tensions and Political Reactions
West Midlands Police classified the fixture as “high risk” due to intelligence reports and violent incidents during last year’s Europa League clash between Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam. The FARE Network, which monitors discrimination for UEFA, said it would not challenge the police assessment.
Lisa Nandy confirmed that ministers were working to fund additional policing so away fans could attend if security conditions improved. She noted that the issue extended beyond football, citing “rising antisemitism across the world” and a recent attack on a Manchester synagogue that killed two men.
Tensions escalated further on Sunday when police cancelled the Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel due to public disorder and riots. Maccabi stated that their supporters were not responsible and thanked UK authorities for their ongoing efforts.
Calls for Unity Amid Division
“Maccabi fans travel across Europe without incident,” the club said. “To claim they pose a danger distorts the truth. Football should unite, not divide.”
The team thanked the UK government and police for their cooperation, as well as the wider football community for messages of solidarity.
Aston Villa previously told stewards they could opt out of working the fixture if they felt unsafe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer later criticised the fan ban, calling it “wrong,” and reaffirmed that “antisemitism will never be tolerated on our streets.”
