The decision by local police to prevent fans of an Israeli soccer club from attending an upcoming match against a prominent British team has been met with strong disapproval from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it ‘the wrong decision.’ The match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for November 6th at Aston Villa’s stadium in Birmingham, was initially designated as high-risk by local authorities before they ultimately decided to ban visiting Maccabi supporters.
While similar fan exclusions have occurred in European soccer matches before, even twice this season, the current political climate surrounding Israeli teams has amplified the controversy. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, coupled with a heated debate about free speech in Britain and rising concerns over antisemitism, has intensified criticism of the ban.
‘This is the wrong decision,’ Prime Minister Starmer asserted on social media on Thursday. ‘We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.’
On Friday, several British government departments were engaged in discussions to address and potentially resolve the issues that led to the ban. A national policing unit specializing in football match safety confirmed in a statement that they had briefed government officials on the potential fan ban last week.
Starmer’s political adversaries, particularly Kemi Badenoch, the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, condemned the decision even more vehemently, branding it a ‘national disgrace.’ This highlights the significant pressure on Starmer’s ruling Labour Party to offer a strong response. Conversely, some local politicians in Birmingham—a city known for its diversity and a hub for pro-Palestinian demonstrations during the Gaza war—supported the ban.
Ayoub Khan, an independent Member of Parliament who won his seat last year on a pro-Palestinian platform, voiced his support for the ban, stating, ‘From the moment that the match was announced, it was clear that there were latent safety risks that even our capable security and police authorities would not be able to fully manage.’ He had previously advocated for the match’s cancellation.
Organizing games involving Israeli teams has become a challenging and costly undertaking for authorities and event organizers since the war in Gaza began. This conflict erupted following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken.
Across Europe, protestors have increasingly utilized soccer matches featuring Israeli teams as platforms for demonstrations against the war in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 70,000 casualties in Gaza (without distinguishing between civilians and combatants), and some of these games have regrettably devolved into confrontations and violence.
For a recent World Cup qualifier against Israel, Norway implemented its largest security operation for a sports event since the 1994 Winter Olympics. Despite these measures, fewer than 100 Israeli fans attended, while over 1,000 participated in a pro-Palestinian protest in Oslo beforehand. Days later, at another World Cup qualifier in Italy, military snipers were deployed to safeguard the Israeli national team and its entourage.
A significant incident occurred last year in Amsterdam when Maccabi Tel Aviv played against Dutch club Ajax. The event was marred by two days of violence, antisemitic attacks, and anti-Arab chants. A report by Dutch authorities indicated that Maccabi fans had torn down and burned a Palestinian flag, and engaged in anti-Arab chanting before the game. Following the match, Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, reported numerous ‘hit-and-run attacks’ on Maccabi fans, resulting in five hospitalizations.
In her report, Ms. Halsema described the events as ‘a toxic cocktail of antisemitism, football hooliganism and anger over the war in Palestine and Israel and other parts of the Middle East.’
West Midlands Police, Birmingham’s primary law enforcement agency, explicitly cited the Amsterdam violence as a key factor in their decision to prohibit Maccabi fans from the November match against Aston Villa. The police stated their actions were aimed at ‘mitigating risks to public safety.’
The Israeli government and other entities urged British authorities to reconsider the ban, with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar branding the decision ‘shameful.’
Soccer fandom historically involves passionate, sometimes volatile, confrontations, often leading local authorities to exclude fans for security reasons. For instance, two years prior, Aston Villa itself prevented a group of Polish fans from attending a match due to pre-game violence. Last month, the French interior ministry banned Ajax fans from a game in Marseille. In the same week, Naples city officials blocked ticket sales to German team Eintracht Frankfurt supporters for another match.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, affirmed in a statement that ‘In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the safety and security of matches taking place on their territory.’
Some teams have proactively rescheduled or relocated games against Israeli teams due to safety concerns. Indeed, Israeli teams have been unable to host matches at home since the conflict began. Furthermore, a report by an antiracism group in Israel documented an increase in racist behavior, including anti-Arab chants, at domestic games.
Stephen Castle contributed reporting.