Keir Starmer Calls Out ‘Antisemitism’ Over Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Decision

Keir Starmer has hit out at the decision not to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend their club’s away trip to Aston Villa in the Europa League. The Israeli club are set to face the Villans at Villa Park on Thursday, November 6th, but their supporters won’t be able to be present.

The decision came from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who have informed Villa that “no travelling fans will be permitted at the match in Birmingham.” The concerns stem from possible protests, and the upcoming game was deemed “high risk”.

Prime Minister Starmer is one of several members of Parliament who have responded to and opposed the SAG’s verdict. Villa have also commented, and made clear that the safety of supporters is “at the forefront of any decision”.

Starmer Slams Maccabi Tel Aviv Fan Ban

Starmer wrote on his X account: “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 UK PM shared a BBC Sport article confirming that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans wouldn’t be allowed into Villa Park due to safety concerns. This also included Villa’s response, in which they stated that “the club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process…the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents is at the forefront of any decision.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also shared her thoughts, calling the decision a “national disgrace” while Nigel Huddleston, MP for Droitwich and Evesham, wrote on social media: “Football and sport has enormous power to unite. This decision gives in to the forces of hatred and division.”

The WMP’s stance comes after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match against Ajax in November 2024, which resulted in 62 arrests and five individuals hospitalised in Amsterdam. Amsterdam officials described this ordeal as “a toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” over the war in Gaza, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East and saw several European clubs reportedly ask UEFA about avoiding matches against Israeli teams in continental competitions.

Aston Villa Jewish Villans Supporters’ Club Respond

Andrew Fox, the honorary president of Aston Villa’s Jewish Villans supporters’ club has released a statement and hit out at WMP. They wrote:

“In the summer of 1938, on a tour of Germany, the name Aston Villa became famous around the world, as the only visiting team who refused an official request to perform the Nazi salute prior to kickoff. Today, the same club have been forced by the local authorities to salute modern day Nazism.”

“We lay no blame on Villa – it would absolutely not be safe to allow thousands of Jews to walk around Aston and its surroundings. Why that may be so should trouble the entire country. It must also be said that following the announcement, we have been inundated with Villa fans happy to give up their seats to travelling Tel Aviv supporters.”

Fox opined in a separate post on his personal X account that the WMP had made a decision that is “the antithesis of football.” He added, “This will forever be a stain on British football.”

Villa have four games ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s visit in early November, including a trip to the Netherlands to face Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on October 23.