Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be barred from attending their team’s upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, after West Midlands Police requested that no Israeli supporters be permitted due to security concerns, the Athletic reported on Thursday. The November 6 game will be open only to local fans.
According to the report, police recommended that the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) not approve a section for Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. UEFA, which organizes the competition, accepted the position of the local authorities.
The recommendation was raised during a meeting on Thursday that included representatives of Birmingham City Council, security officials, the home club and other bodies. Aston Villa confirmed the details in a post on its social media accounts.
Under UEFA regulations, each club must allocate at least five percent of stadium capacity to the visiting team’s fans, but final decisions on safety are left to local authorities. UEFA therefore approved the request from British officials.
The decision comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding Israel and follows incidents last season in Amsterdam, where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were assaulted by pro-Palestinian crowds.
In Birmingham—home to a large Muslim population and the site of frequent pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the war began—security concerns have escalated. Local MP Ayoub Khan signed a petition urging authorities to cancel the match, move it to a neutral venue, or hold it behind closed doors “to ensure public safety and community harmony.”
For now, the match is expected to proceed as scheduled. Aston Villa, which has won its first two Europa League group-stage games, will face Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles before hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Israeli club, meanwhile, drew with PAOK Thessaloniki and lost to Dinamo Zagreb, and is set to play Denmark’s Midtjylland next week.