Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced that it will not accept any tickets allocated to their fans for the Europa League match at Villa Park, scheduled for November 6.
The local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) made the decision last week to prohibit visiting fans from attending the game against Aston Villa following a risk assessment conducted by West Midlands Police. This decision has faced criticism from various politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
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Despite calls to overturn the decision, Maccabi released a statement on their website on Monday evening emphasizing that “the safety and wellbeing of our fans is our highest priority.” They explained that they have learned difficult lessons in the past and have opted to turn down any ticket offers for away fans within this context.
“We hope to see circumstances improve and look forward to future opportunities to compete in Birmingham in a safe sporting environment,” the statement read.
The club also expressed skepticism toward the motivations of those attempting to rationalize the ban.
“We appreciate the efforts of the UK government and police in facilitating the safe attendance of both teams’ supporters, and we thank the wider football community for their support,” they stated.
“Our first-team players include Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and our fan base reflects a diverse range of ethnic and religious backgrounds. We are also committed to combating racism among the more extreme factions of our supporters.”
They condemned the narrative propagated by certain entrenched groups that aim to tarnish the reputation of the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base, most of whom do not condone racism or violence and seek to exploit isolated incidents for their own societal or political agendas.
“The hate-fueled misconceptions surrounding us have created a toxic atmosphere, casting doubt on the safety of our fans who wish to attend,” the statement continued.
Earlier Monday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy criticized the decision to bar fans, claiming it represents a choice to exclude Jewish people.
During a House of Commons session responding to a question from former Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston, Nandy stated that while the ultimate decision rests with the police, she believes “the country should be appalled” that the initial threat assessment appeared to be influenced by the fact that Maccabi supporters are Israeli and Jewish.
She remarked, “The proposed solution of excluding a group is incorrect. It opts for exclusion rather than exploring comprehensive measures to mitigate risk. This reflects on our national character.”
West Midlands Police categorized the match as “high risk,” stating their decision was based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violence and hate crimes that occurred during a UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam in 2024.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan for Birmingham Perry Barr commented that there has been a misleading campaign to frame the issue as a ban on Jews, conflating policing matters with religion.
He emphasized that “those who are unwelcome in Aston are the hooligans with a documented history of violence and racism.”
Nandy responded, “Regarding the specific incidents and chants he referred to, I find them appalling, and no one in this house should condone such behavior. However, it is also disingenuous to assert that one supports unity and inclusion while simultaneously promoting division and exclusion.”
While Nandy acknowledged that there is “a minority” of Maccabi fans whose behavior is unacceptable, she stressed, “This does not represent all fans. It is unprecedented that all away fans are banned due to the actions of a small subgroup.”
The Fare network, which monitors discrimination in UEFA, stated on Friday that they were hesitant to question the police’s assessment but acknowledged Maccabi fans have a history of discriminatory behavior.
Fare has reportedly submitted numerous referrals to UEFA over the past decade regarding incidents involving racism among Maccabi fans.
It was revealed on Monday that the UK Football Policing Unit is in discussions with Israeli authorities to ascertain the role, if any, of Maccabi supporters in the disturbances that led to the cancellation of the Tel Aviv derby on Sunday.
Maccabi insists that their fans were not involved in the unrest and added: “Our fans travel throughout Europe without incidents; suggesting that our inability to travel is due to our supporters’ behavior distorts reality and deflects from the true reasons for this decision.” They concluded by acknowledging that “Our fans, and the Jewish community at large, recognize this tactic and are all too aware of where it can lead.”