Starmer denounces the ban on Israeli fans attending Aston Villa’s Europa League game, calling it wrong amid widespread political backlash.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the decision to ban Israeli fans from attending the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham as “wrong,” stressing that “we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.”
The ban, issued by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group over public safety concerns, has sparked political outrage. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it “a national disgrace,” while Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar labelled it “a shameful decision.”
West Midlands Police classified the November 6 fixture as high-risk due to past violent clashes involving Maccabi fans in Amsterdam last year.
The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “perverse” that away fans were banned, suggesting the game be played behind closed doors. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage called the move “racial discrimination.”
However, Birmingham MP Ayoub Khan defended the decision, saying safety risks justified “drastic measures.”