Aston Villa Offered Stewards Leave of Absence Amidst safety Concerns for Maccabi Tel Aviv Match
BIRMINGHAM, UK – Aston Villa Football Club reportedly offered its matchday stewards the option to skip work during their upcoming Europa League fixture against maccabi tel Aviv, citing potential ”concerns” over safety. This move comes as West Midlands Police have banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match on November 6th, citing fears of violence stemming from previous clashes involving the Israeli club’s supporters.
The police decision follows “violent clashes and hate crime offences” that occurred during a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and ajax Amsterdam in 2024, where over 60 people were arrested. Authorities in Amsterdam described the situation as a “toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger.”
According to a report by the BBC, Villa informed stewards on October 3rd that they could submit a “one-off absence request” for the Maccabi tel Aviv game, acknowledging potential anxieties about working the match. The club assured stewards that such absences would not impact their contractual attendance requirements.
This offer was made before the police announced the ban on away fans. It’s currently unclear how many stewards will ultimately choose not to work the fixture, with requests needing to be submitted four days prior to the game.
West Midlands Police have classified the match as “high risk” based on intelligence gathered. The Home Office has since offered additional support to the police force in an attempt to overturn the fan ban, and a meeting with Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is scheduled for next week to discuss the situation.
The unfolding events raise questions about the level of perceived threat surrounding the match and the club’s proactive approach to addressing potential safety concerns.
Keywords: Aston Villa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Europa League, Football, Safety Concerns, Police Ban, Stewards, West Midlands Police, Home Office, Amsterdam, Violence, Antisemitism, Hate Crime.
