Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Aston Villa ticket allocation was declined by the Israeli club, citing fan safety and a toxic atmosphere, a decision supported by the UK government.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Aston Villa Ticket Decision: Club Declines Allocation on Safety Grounds
The Maccabi Tel Aviv Aston Villa ticket allocation for their upcoming UEFA Europa League match will not be taken up by the Israeli club. On October 20, 2025, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced it would decline any tickets offered to its fans for the November 6 fixture at Villa Park in Birmingham, even if a prior local ban on its supporters were reversed. The club stated that “the well-being and safety of our fans is paramount,” and the decision was informed by “hard lessons learned”. This move concludes a contentious period of debate involving UK government ministers, local safety authorities, and the police, all centered on the safety and security of the match.
The Initial Fan Ban and Political Reaction
The sequence of events began the week of October 20, when Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches, informed Aston Villa that no away fans would be permitted at the game. This decision was based on a high-risk classification from West Midlands Police, which cited “current intelligence and previous incidents,” specifically pointing to “violent clashes and hate crime offenses” during a Maccabi Tel Aviv match against Ajax in Amsterdam in 2024.
The ban quickly drew criticism from the highest levels of the UK government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “the wrong decision” and affirmed that “we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets”. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also voiced strong opposition, with Phillipson stating the government would “provide what is necessary” to ensure Maccabi fans could attend, assuring that resources would not be a blocker. The UK government subsequently began working to override the local authorities and reverse the ban.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Definitive Statement
Despite the government’s efforts, Maccabi Tel Aviv preemptively announced its fans would not attend. In a detailed 498-word statement, the club expressed that “a toxic atmosphere has been created which makes the safety of our fans wishing to attend very much in doubt”.
The club strongly pushed back against the characterization of its fan base, arguing that its supporters “regularly travel all over Europe without incident” and suggesting that blaming fan behavior was “an attempt to distort reality and to excuse the real underlying reasons” for the initial ban. The statement also highlighted the club’s diverse composition, noting its “first-team squad consists of Muslims, Christians and Jewish players and our fanbase also crosses the ethnic and religious divide,” and mentioned ongoing work to “stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fanbase”.
A Decision Rooted in Recent Troubles
Two specific incidents heavily influenced the security concerns surrounding the match:
- Violence in Amsterdam (2024): West Midlands Police intelligence referred to an event where, before a match against Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were reported to have rampaged through the Dutch capital, assaulting residents, destroying symbols of Palestinian solidarity, and chanting racist slogans. This led to dozens of arrests. The evening before that match, police said Maccabi supporters attacked a taxi and set a Palestinian flag on fire.
- Canceled Tel Aviv Derby (October 2025): Just a day before Maccabi’s announcement, the Israeli Premier League derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was canceled by Israeli police before kick-off due to “public disorder and violent riots” that injured three officers and 12 people. This incident was cited by some UK politicians as evidence supporting the initial safety concerns.
Mixed Political and Community Responses
The developments exposed divisions among British politicians. While the national government condemned the initial ban, some local MPs stood by the safety authorities. Independent MP Ayoub Khan criticized Prime Minister Starmer, stating the issue was about “hooliganism, people who show no mercy,” and not religion. Labor MP Richard Burgon stated that the recent violence in Israel “vindicated” the decision to ban away fans.
In response to Maccabi’s final decision, a UK government spokesperson said they were “deeply saddened” but respected the club’s choice, calling it “completely unacceptable that this game has been weaponized to stoke violence and fear by those who seek to divide us”.
The Road Ahead for the Fixture
With Maccabi Tel Aviv officially declining its ticket allocation, the match on November 6 will now almost certainly proceed without any official away supporters. Aston Villa had previously informed its matchday stewards that they did not have to work the fixture if they had concerns, indicating the heightened sensitivity around the event.
The club and the UK government now hope the match can be a peaceful sporting contest. Maccabi Tel Aviv concluded its statement by expressing hope that “circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future”.