Sofia Quijada
No travelling Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters at Villa Park
West Midlands Police has told Aston Villa that no fans will be allowed to travel to their Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, 6 November 2025, citing public safety concerns.
The decision came after the Safety Advisory Group — the body that issues safety certificates for matches — informed Villa that supporters of the Israeli club would not be permitted to attend the game at Villa Park.
Villa said the club is maintaining contact with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities as the situation develops. “The safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents is at the forefront of any decision,” the club added.
“This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam. Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.”
West Midlands Police described the fixture as “high risk” after a “thorough assessment”. The force pointed to last season’s clashes in Amsterdam — when arrests followed violence in the build-up to the Ajax v Maccabi Tel Aviv match — as part of the reasoning.
Amsterdam officials characterised that violence as a “toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” over the war in Gaza. A ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on 10 October 2025.
Protests linked to the Gaza war have appeared at a number of sporting events, including when Israel’s national team faced Norway and Italy in World Cup qualifiers. English clubs have also faced disorder in Europe previously: 39 people were arrested after trouble ahead of Villa’s meeting with Legia Warsaw in 2023.
With safety the primary concern, local authorities and the club say the restrictions aim to reduce the risk of clashes and protect residents near Villa Park on match night.