British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday sharply criticized the decision by English authorities to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match at Aston Villa on Nov. 6.
Starmer posted on social media: “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.”
The decision follows UEFA’s acceptance of local authorities’ refusal to allocate tickets for Israeli fans after a meeting involving Birmingham city officials, security agencies, Aston Villa and others. The club confirmed the restriction in a social media post.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the move “shameful,” demanding that UK authorities reverse it. Opposition leader Yair Lapid also voiced criticism, saying Israel should pressure the British government to allow Maccabi fans to attend, calling the decision “not merely local police policy” and condemning UEFA’s backing as disgraceful.
Under UEFA rules, at least 5% of a stadium’s capacity must be reserved for away fans—unless local security concerns override that. In this case, local authorities deemed it necessary to prohibit entry.
Officials cite concern over political tensions surrounding Israel and past incidents—most notably unrest involving Maccabi fans during a match in Amsterdam—as justification. Birmingham, with a 30% Muslim population and ongoing pro‑Palestinian protests since the Gaza war, has also seen local calls to cancel or relocate the match.
As of now, the game remains scheduled. Aston Villa won its opening Europa League matches; Maccabi opened with a draw against PAOK and a loss to Dinamo Zagreb. Their next fixture is against Danish side Midtjylland.