Government officials to discuss ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa Park

Senior Government figures will meet on Friday to address the “completely and utterly unacceptable” safety ban which would see fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv shut out from next month’s Europa League game at Aston Villa.

The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has told Villa that travelling fans will not be permitted to attend the match at Villa Park on November 6, a controversial verdict which Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already criticised.

There are concerns about disorder and protest related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, but Starmer issued a strong statement on X opposing the ruling.

Now culture department minister Ian Murray has suggested the matter is not closed.

Murray told Sky News: “The Prime Minister and the Government have been clear about that. In fact, pretty much every politician has been clear about that. It’s just completely and utterly unacceptable, and the Prime Minister has said we will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue.

“It’s an operational issue for the police, and Government doesn’t get involved in operational issues for the police. But I know the Culture Secretary of State (Lisa Nandy) will be meeting with
the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there’s a way through this.”

Starmer had earlier written on X: “This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets,” he wrote.

“The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”

Maccabi’s chief executive Jack Angelidis finds the judgement difficult to comprehend and has deep concerns about the meaning and motivation behind it.

“To be frank, it’s met with some dismay about what this potentially is signalling,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“We understand the reasons that have been put to us which are to do with the feeling that the authorities will not be able to adequately protect our fans who would be attending the match.

“But I do think this is an extremely important moment because of what it signifies. I don’t use this term lightly but people ask ‘what does antisemitism look like?’, and it’s often manifested as part of a process, in other words small events leading up to something that’s more sinister.

“So I do find it somewhat difficult to understand why this has come to pass in the sense that our fans cannot be secure in attending this match.”

As for the club’s official travelling party, he said: “There is a delegation coming of management, of players, and all the supporting staff, are we saying that they will be secure also or that there are issues with them?”

European football governing body UEFA has also had its say, promoting the principle of inclusivity for away supporters.

“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,” a statement read.

Announcing the news, the club said it would continue to monitor the situation.

Villa said: “The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”