“Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite.
“This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying, ‘no Jews allowed’. What has become of the UK where blatant antisemitism has become the norm?”
The 29-year-old has joined growing calls for the ban – widely condemned by Jewish groups and politicians from across the spectrum – to be overturned.
British-Israeli ex-hostage Emily Damari and released hostages Gali and Ziv Berman support Maccabi Tel Aviv[Missing Credit]
Grassroots campaign group Our Fight announced that its members intend to attend the game regardless of the ban, saying in a statement: “We cannot allow these divisive politicians to decide who can and cannot watch a football match, not least in a major British city. We cannot allow the police to crumble in the face of pressure from one community at the expense of another.”
Andrew Fox, honorary president of the Aston Villa Jewish supporters’ club, accused authorities of betraying the club’s historic stance against fascism. He recalled that Aston Villa refused to perform a Nazi salute during a 1938 match against Germany, saying the club had now “been forced by the local authorities to salute modern day Nazism.”
Fox added that Villa fans had offered to give up their seats to travelling Maccabi supporters in solidarity.
Meanwhile, the Campaign Against Antisemitism said the move marked “yet another alarming sign of how British authorities are failing to ensure that Jews can participate safely and equally in public life.”
The group said: “Instead of confronting the antisemitic hatred that has made it unsafe for Israeli fans to attend, the response is to exclude the victims. If British police cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish and Israeli fans at a football match, what does that say about the state of policing and public order in this country?”
According to West Midlands Police, the decision to exclude Israeli fans was influenced by security concerns following last year’s Maccabi Tel Aviv match against Ajax in Amsterdam, when Israeli fans were hunted and beaten by locals.
That attack against the Israeli fans had been co-ordinated in the days before the game via a WhatsApp group with more than 900 members, with some agitators travelling to the city from further afield.
The JC understands that the government is seeking ways to allow the match to go ahead with supporters from both sides present.
Senior government figures, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, are reportedly meeting later today in a bid to reverse the ban.
However, officials have stressed that the decision ultimately lies with the independent local police force.
West Midlands Police Commissioner Simon Foster has called for an urgent meeting and “full review” of the decision to ban away fans, saying that the safety and security of all people and communities in the region was “absolute, unconditional and non-negotiable".
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticised the decision to block supporters from attending the Europa League match.
“We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets,” Starmer said, insisting that police must “ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded the decision a “national disgrace” and urged Starmer to intervene, writing on X that he should “guarantee that Jewish fans can walk into any football stadium in this country.”
“If not,” she warned, “it sends a horrendous and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot go.”
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice called for the decision to be reversed or for the Chief Constable to resign, accusing the force of “authorising and legitimising antisemitic intimidation across Birmingham.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also condemned the move, saying: “You don’t tackle antisemitism by banning its victims. This decision must be reversed.”
The ban was welcomed, however, by Ayoub Khan, the Pro-Palestine Independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, whose constituency includes Villa Park and who recently signed up to Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s Your Party.
Khan led a campaign pressuring local authorities to bar the game, launching a petition on September 16 that has since gained more than 3,800 signatures, including the former Labour leader, Corbyn.
Khan claimed Maccabi supporters were “themselves to blame” for the violence in Amsterdam. “We’re talking about some very very vile fans in that club,” he said, before clarifying that he “did not mean all Maccabi fans.”
He continues to call for Israeli teams to be banned from international competition entirely.
Echoing his position, Sultana urged UEFA to ban all Israeli clubs from European tournaments, writing on X: “We cannot have normalisation with genocide and apartheid.”
Labour peer Lord Katz described Khan’s campaign as “shameful”.
He said: “How on Earth does this decision ease tensions? What MP says that ordinary people – football fans, say – from any group, any nationality aren't welcome to their area? Disgraceful.”
Another Independent MP, Iqbal Mohamed, who represents Dewsbury and Batley, celebrated the decision, falsely branding Maccabi fans “hooligans and terrorists”. In a post online, he said: "Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents and the British public above the Zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country."
Aston Villa said in a statement: "Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG has formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.
"West Midlands Police have advised the SAG [Safety Advisory Group] that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.
"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."
In a statement, West Midlands Police said the upcoming game had been classified as "high risk" following a "thorough assessment".
"West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending," a spokesperson said.
"This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
"Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
"We remain steadfast in our support all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms."
UEFA has been contacted for comment.
