Maccabi Tel Aviv fans blocked from attending Aston Villa clash over safety concerns | OneFootball

Aston Villa have been informed that away fans will not be allowed to attend next month's home Europa League match against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv due to safety concerns.

Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine and the potential threat of protests, the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has told Villa that no travelling supporters will be permitted at Villa Park.

A club statement read: "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, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.

"The Safety Advisory Group are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.

"Following a meeting (on Friday) 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."

West Midlands Police said it has a strong track record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events.

A spokesman for the force said: "We are committed to delivering fair and impartial policing, while balancing the public's right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.

"Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as high risk.

"While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.

"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."

The force said that, based on officers' professional judgment, it believed the measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.

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