𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Home Office was warned last week that a ban on Israeli football fans attending an Aston Villa match in Birmingham was being considered. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed outrage at the ban, calling it the “wrong decision”. However the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), a national body that advised West Midlands Police, has revealed it told the Government that restrictions were possible.

A UKFPU spokesperson said: “The UKFPU supported West Midlands Police in gaining access to the full details of the previous incidents in Amsterdam via the European policing network so they had all the relevant information available to them. Following this, the Home Office were briefed last week by the UKFPU about the potential issues and options that the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) may take including restrictions on visiting fans.

“The Safety Advisory Group is made up of independent bodies who make recommendations to the licensing authorities and the priority is always the safety of those attending matches and the wider public. This process was supported the Sports Ground Safety Authority. It is important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions. If there are any adverse incidents, then they are the ones that will be held responsible.

“The UKFPU, in the wake of the Casey Review following the serious disorder at Wembley in 2021, has suggested that if the government want a role in regulating football events that could be termed ‘events of national significance’, then they need to bring forward legislation to formalise this to ensure accountability sits with decision-makers.”

However the Home Office insists that it was only told a ban was being “considered” and was not informed that a decision had actually been taken until Thursday night.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the Home Secretary had “serious questions to answer” after it emerged her department was briefed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans might be banned from attending a match against Aston Villa.

The Conservative leader said: “This is a weak Government that fails to act when required.

“Now we learn the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, knew Jewish football fans were being banned from a UK stadium, and did nothing.

“Just like Starmer did nothing when he found out the China spy case was collapsing.

“The Home Secretary has serious questions to answer.

“Only the Conservatives have the backbone to stand up for the safety of Jews and defend our national security.”

Downing Street has pledged action to resolve the ban on fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv attending next month’s Europa League game at Aston Villa.

Discussions are happening “at pace, across Government” to overturn the ban on visiting supporters attending the match at Villa Park on November 6, No 10 has said.

Authorities in Birmingham are facing mounting pressure to overturn the ban, with the Government stepping in on Thursday evening.

Conversations aimed at overturning the ban include Home Office offers of support to police in Birmingham, and a phone call between Communities Secretary Steve Reed and Birmingham City Council.

Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is “meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try to find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely”, a No 10 spokesman said.

He added: “You can expect to hear further updates today. I won’t pre-empt the conversations, but these are happening at pace, across Government, with all the relevant groups to find a way to resolve this.”

The Prime Minister has been “angered by the decision”, the spokesman also said, adding: “While of course this is an operational decision, we are perfectly entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this.”

He said: “The Prime Minister will do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve and, as he has made clear, we think this is the wrong decision.”

The Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match was classified high risk by West Midlands Police based on “current intelligence and previous incidents”.

The force pointed to violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam.