Israeli team fans’ ban in Birmingham makes headlines.
West Midlands Police have issued a statement saying that the Europa League group stage match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv has been classified as a “high risk” event. The Birmingham Safety Advisory Group, a body made up of representatives from the city council, police, fire and medical services that reviews major events, has advised against the attendance of away fans.
The group, after reviewing the police report and assessing the security threat, has decided not to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend the match at Villapark.
The police said in a statement that the decision was made “following a careful review of the security information available, the history of clashes at previous matches and in the interests of public safety.” The statement said in part that “this action aims to prevent any clashes and potential incidents so that all spectators can enjoy the match in a safe environment.”
Following the decision, Aston Villa said it was in contact with security agencies and UEFA and was working with local authorities to ensure the match was held safely. The match is due to be played at Villa Park next month.
The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans quickly became a controversial issue in British politics. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded to the decision by saying: “The police must ensure that all football fans can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation.” He added: “In such cases, security considerations must be accompanied by principles of fairness and justice.”
A number of local MPs have supported the police decision. Birmingham MP Ayub Khan said in an interview with local media that the decision was taken “in the public interest and to prevent potential tensions.” He added: “In a situation where the public atmosphere is extremely sensitive to events in the Middle East, any gathering without careful planning can be dangerous.”
In any case, the decision of the Birmingham police is not without support. After the clashes between fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, British security officials had warned that there was a possibility of such incidents recurring on the territory of this country. For this reason, the Birmingham match was classified as “high risk”.
In recent years, similar examples of security restrictions for matches of Israeli teams in Europe have been seen, which have generally been held without spectators or on neutral grounds due to concerns about possible clashes. Sports observers believe that the decision of the Birmingham police is also understandable in the same context, but this time, given the inflamed atmosphere caused by the Gaza war and the increased sensitivities of public opinion, its reflection and consequences are assessed to be wider than in previous cases.