Aston Villa Fans
The Aston Villa Safety Advisory Group (SAG), chaired by Birmingham City Council, has reaffirmed its decision to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their upcoming match against Aston Villa. This decision comes amidst intense scrutiny and allegations of antisemitism following the initial ban. The group, which met behind closed doors, has faced significant pressure from various quarters, including former West Midlands police chief Mat Shaer and the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which threatened legal action if the ban persisted.
A council spokesperson said: “A multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has met to consider any public safety impacts relating to the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv football match. Partners agreed with the Police assessment that the match was high risk. In order to support public safety and reduce risk to the lowest possible level the SAG advised on options that would minimise significant public safety impacts, including no away fans attending.”
West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “I’ve read some of the intelligence that’s been received and the assessment that’s been made. It’s based on professional judgement.”
The decision by the SAG is based on intelligence reports suggesting that the presence of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans could lead to significant safety risks. The reports, primarily sourced from European police forces, indicated that extremist fans of the Israeli club posed the biggest threat of violence. Previous incidents involving Maccabi fans, including violent altercations and racist taunts, contributed to the decision. The intelligence suggested that these fans might travel to Birmingham even without tickets, potentially inciting reprisal violence.
The SAG’s decision also considered the potential for additional protests around the match. Intelligence indicated a likelihood of pro-Palestine protests, anti-hate and pro-Israel demonstrations, and the possible attendance of controversial figures like Tommy Robinson. Despite the ban on away supporters, these gatherings could still occur, adding to the security concerns.
In response to the ongoing controversy, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced that they would not be taking up their allocation of away tickets, even if the ban were lifted. The club cited a “toxic atmosphere” that jeopardized the safety of their fans.
Maccabi Tel Aviv stated: “We hope circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
The Aston Villa SAG, a multi-agency group comprising up to 85 invitees, regularly convenes to assess safety challenges for major events at Villa Park. In this instance, the group evaluated whether any capacity restrictions or other measures were necessary to mitigate safety risks. The West Midlands Police’s reports underscored that while Villa fans posed a low risk, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans represented a high risk, justifying the continued enforcement of the ban.
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