Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are banned from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Thursday, November 7, due to safety concerns raised by West Midlands Police about their ability to manage potential protests related to the Israeli war on Gaza.

West Midlands Police said that the game was classified as high-risk, following a "thorough" analysis they conducted.

"This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam," the West Midlands Police said, adding that "based on our professional judgment, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety."

According to Aston Villa's statement, the decision was made after an instruction from Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group, which was based on the advice of West Midlands Police.

Appeasing 'Israel' precedes safety

British officials said Friday they were working to reverse the ban on Tel Aviv Maccabi fans, after the decision drew condemnation from politicians, sports organizations, and Israeli groups. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer swiftly criticized the fan ban, stating that “the role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”

Starmer called the police recommendation to bar the visiting team's fans from the November 6 game "the wrong decision," while UEFA, European soccer's governing body, urged British authorities to ensure the Israeli team's supporters could attend.

“UEFA wants fans to be able to travel and support their team in a safe, secure and welcoming environment, and encourages both teams and the competent authorities to agree on the implementation of appropriate measures necessary to allow this to happen,” the football association said in a statement.

Ian Murray, a minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said the government “will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue," adding that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy “will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there’s a way through this.”

The ban came in light of violent clashes between pro-Palestine demonstrators and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans that erupted before the game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax on November 6, leading to more than 60 arrests, four men receiving short prison sentences, and another being given a community service order.

The evening before the match, Israeli football fans were filmed removing Palestine flags hung on homes in Amsterdam, chanting racist anti-Arab chants such as "death to Arabs," attacking bystanders and pedestrians, and vandalizing local property.