West Midlands Police Face Criticism Over Ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv Supporters
BIRMINGHAM, UK – A controversial ban imposed by West Midlands Police on “anyone claiming to be an Ajax Amsterdam supporter” travelling between the French border and the city ahead of aston Villa’s Europa Conference League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv has sparked widespread condemnation, with accusations of racism and concerns over the policing of football fans. The ban came after pressure from local independent MP Ayoub Khan.
The move, intended to prevent potential disorder, has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Labor leader Keir Starmer labelled the decision ”the wrong decision,” while Business and Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch called it “a national disgrace.”
Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron described the ban as “racist against Jews,” stating: “We can’t have Jews watching football, people might get violent towards them’. Are we seriously saying that we are incapable of protecting football fans from racism? This is shameful.” He further criticized the justification offered by some as “risible,” accusing them of attempting to avoid acknowledging their own racism and calling it “a stain on Britain.”
Khan defended the ban, telling Newsnight on Thursday: “We cannot conflate antisemitism when we look at what some of these fans did in Amsterdam in 2024 … We’re talking about violent fans and I think the prime minister should stay out of operational matters.”
Uefa, the governing body of European football, has urged local authorities to allow Maccabi fans to travel, stating it wants fans to be able to support their team “in a safe, secure and welcoming surroundings.”
Jack Angelides, chief executive of Maccabi Tel Aviv, said he had not received formal notification of the ban, noting a recent match against Turkish opposition – played in Hungary and without fans – proceeded without incident. “You’re talking about a very small number of people in stadiums such as Villa Park,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Friday.”Stadiums around the world have managed to accommodate much larger groups of away fans.”
Andrew Fox, honorary president of Aston Villa Jewish Villans supporters’ club, linked the ban to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, expressing concern that it “sends a really worrying message about british society: that we aren’t civilised enough to have a debate over this without it descending into football violence or violent attacks.”
The debate also highlighted differing views on broader boycotts, with Green party deputy leader Mothin Ali advocating for a “sporting and cultural boycott of all Israeli teams, like we saw for South african teams under apartheid” due to the war in Gaza.
