BIRMINGHAM, England , 21 October (H.S.): Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv announced on Monday that it will not accept any ticket allocation for its upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa, even if a ban on its supporters is overturned. The club cited a toxic atmosphere and paramount concerns for the safety and well-being of its fans as the reasons for the decision.

The controversy began last week when Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG), acting on a high risk assessment from West Midlands Police, informed Aston Villa that no visiting fans would be permitted at the match scheduled for next month.

Police intelligence referenced previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences during a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, as a basis for the decision.The initial ban was widely condemned by UK political figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called the move wrong.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had also pledged that the government would find the resources to fund the necessary policing to allow Maccabi fans to attend safely.

However, Maccabi Tel Aviv stated that hate-filled falsehoods and inflammatory rhetoric have created an environment where their fans' safety could not be guaranteed. The club acknowledged the UK government's efforts but maintained its position to decline the tickets.

In a statement, a government spokesperson expressed that it was completely unacceptable that the match had been weaponised to stoke violence and fear.The situation follows recent unrest, including the cancellation of a derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv due to public disorder and violent riots on Sunday.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar