TEL AVIV / LONDON — October 21, 2025 — Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced that it will decline any tickets offered to its fans for the upcoming UEFA Europa League match against Aston Villa in the United Kingdom, even if local authorities lift an existing ban on away supporters.
In a statement released on Monday, the club said the decision was made to protect its supporters and prevent further unrest:
“The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount. Our decision should be understood in that context.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv added that the team has been taking steps to “stamp out racism” within its fan base, noting that its squad and supporters include people from Muslim, Christian, and Jewish backgrounds.
A Clash of Safety, Politics, and Perception
The announcement follows a tumultuous weekend in Israel, where police cancelled a Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv minutes before kickoff due to what authorities described as “public disorder and violent riots.”
The unrest comes amid growing scrutiny of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans after a series of violent incidents during European fixtures last year — including clashes in Amsterdam between Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators that resulted in dozens of arrests and multiple reports of racist chanting and hate crimes.
British officials had previously banned Maccabi fans from attending the November 6 Europa League match in Birmingham, citing security concerns. The decision, made by the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), was immediately condemned by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called it “the wrong decision,” and by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who labelled it “shameful and cowardly.”
The UK government had said it was working to override the ban to allow Israeli fans to attend — but Maccabi’s latest decision effectively renders that move unnecessary.
Political and Public Reactions
The events in Tel Aviv over the weekend have shifted the tone of the debate in Britain.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan wrote on X that the Israeli police’s decision to shut down the match due to fan violence “proved” that the Birmingham authorities were right to act cautiously.
Labour MP Richard Burgon echoed that view, saying:
“This news exposes how absurd that campaign has been. The people of Birmingham have a right to be kept safe.”
West Midlands Police reiterated last week that the Aston Villa–Maccabi fixture had been classified as high risk, referencing “previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences” from Maccabi’s 2024 match against Ajax in Amsterdam.
Broader Context: Football and the Gaza War
The controversy comes against the backdrop of growing international criticism of Israeli participation in global sports amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
More than 30 legal scholars and human rights experts recently wrote to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, urging the body to suspend Israel from competitions, citing findings by UN investigators that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.
“UEFA must not be complicit in sports-washing such flagrant breaches of international law,” the letter said.
Looking Ahead
While Aston Villa’s match preparations continue, the absence of away supporters will add to a tense political atmosphere surrounding the game.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s choice to withdraw its fans — framed as a measure for safety and introspection — also signals a rare public acknowledgment by an Israeli club of the extremism and racism that have marred sections of its own supporter culture.
The Europa League Group Stage fixture is scheduled for November 6, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
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