Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will not be allowed to attend Aston Villa match amid safety concerns

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will not be able to attend their side's Europa League match with Aston Villa amid safety concerns, it has been announced.

Aston Villa say they have been told by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) that no fans of the Israeli club will be able to attend the match on 6 November.

The Premier League side say the decision follows safety concerns raised by West Midlands Police.

"Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, 6 November, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.

"Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.

"West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.

"The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision."

In a statement, West Midlands Police said the upcoming game had been classified as "high risk" following a "thorough assessment".

"West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending," a spokesperson said.

"This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA 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.

"We remain steadfast in our support all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms."

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