Maccabi Tel Aviv chief executive Jack Angelides has described the decision to ban away fans from Thursday’s Europa League match at Aston Villa as “incredibly sad,” stating that “politics should never be drawn into football.”

The controversial ruling, made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group following concerns raised by local police, will prevent Israeli fans from entering Villa Park, sparking backlash, national debate, and protests.

“It became a political issue and we’re not a pawn in a political game,” Angelides told BBC Sport after arriving in Birmingham with the team. “It’s taken away the normal excitement of playing a European match.”

Why Were Maccabi Fans Banned?

The ban followed a high-risk assessment from West Midlands Police, citing “current intelligence” and “previous incidents,” including violent clashes at a 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam.

Additionally, last month’s Tel Aviv derby was halted due to fan unrest, further fueling security fears. However, Angelides maintains “Maccabi fans were not at fault” and called out what he sees as misinformation surrounding the club.

“People have used the lack of clarity to fulfil agendas,” he said. “I must believe there was concern over the safety of our supporters.”

Protests and Heavy Security Expected

Up to 50,000 people are expected to protest outside Villa Park, led by pro-Palestinian groups calling for a complete boycott of Israeli participation in international sport amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“We’ve had a lot of peaceful demonstrations in this city. Our campaign is that Israel should be boycotted in all sports,” said Nayeem Malik, chair of West Midlands Palestinian Solidarity.

To manage the situation, over 700 police officers will be deployed, along with mounted units, drones, and a no-fly zone. Some Birmingham schools will close early due to the scale of the expected protests.

Maccabi Players Used to No-Fan Games

This season, Maccabi Tel Aviv have played their Europa League home games in Serbia after UEFA deemed it unsafe to host matches in Israel. Angelides said the players are “accustomed” to competing without fan support.

“We’ve had to deal with this for two years now,” the CEO said. “No excuses — our players will be ready.”

A Match Overshadowed by Politics

This Europa League fixture between Aston Villa (10th in group standings after three games) and Maccabi Tel Aviv was once in doubt entirely, with some calling for Israeli clubs to be banned amid the war. But after a ceasefire and UEFA’s affirmations, the match will go ahead — though very much under protest, scrutiny, and tight control.