Israeli football club whose fans have been BANNED from Aston Villa match hit back at 'unfair' police decision as fury grows following unprecedented move

A senior official from Maccabi Tel Aviv believes the spectre of antisemitism may have influenced the decision to stop the Israeli club's fans attending a football match on British soil.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the decision of West Midlands Police, who have requested no away supporters at Aston Villa's Europa League tie with the Israeli side in Birmingham on November 6 amid 'a number of physical and safety factors'.

The move has angered the Jewish community and Maccabi chief executive Jack Angelides said on Friday morning: 'To be frank, it's met with some dismay about what this is potentially signalling.

'We understand the reasons that have been put to us, which is to do with the feeling that the authorities will be unable to adequately protect our fans, who would be attending the match.

'I try to avoid going into politics and talk about how other countries should behave, 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 antisemitism looks like?

'Small events, leading up to something that is more sinister. We do have British, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans who are Jewish and they are being told it is not safe in their own country to watch a football match,' he told BBC Radio 4.

In a post on X, Starmer said: 'This is the wrong decision. 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.'

West Midlands Police confirmed in its own statement that the decision was made based on 'previous incidents', namely when Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were targets of antisemitic attacks during the club's Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam last year.

An astonishing 68 people were arrested after attacks were made on Israeli football supporters, prompting Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof to label the assaults 'shocking and reprehensible'.

West Midlands Police has also confirmed the match at Villa Park is being classified a 'high risk' after a lengthy assessment.

Angelides added: 'Communication has been made to UEFA about the decision or recommendation, I'm not sure what it is.

'Villa relayed the position of the police. I can't say that they have taken a position. We have had excellent co-operation with them. They have been keeping us up to date with the decision of the authorities.'

Villa announced on Thursday that Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group, which issues safety certificates, had recommended that supporters of the club would be barred from attending the fixture on November 6.

West Midlands Police cited 'violent clashes and hate crime offences' between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters before a match in Amsterdam in November last year as one of the reasons for the decision.

But on Friday morning Maccabi CEO Jack Angelidis said the decision had been greeted with 'dismay'.

'Communication has been made to UEFA about the decision or recommendation, I'm not sure what it is.' he told BBC Radio 4. 

'Villa relayed the position of the police. I can't say that they have taken a position. We have had excellent co-operation with them. They have been keeping us up to date with the decision of the authorities.'