Summary
West Midlands Police banned Israeli fans from attending a football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv due to safety concerns. The decision faced scrutiny from MPs and was based on past incidents during other Maccabi matches. The Home Affairs Committee plans to investigate further with additional information from Dutch police.
Key Facts
- West Midlands Police banned Israeli fans from a match in Birmingham for safety reasons.
- The match involved Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November.
- Officials cited intelligence about unrest during past Maccabi Tel Aviv matches as a reason.
- Dutch police sent a letter that seemed to contradict claims about Maccabi fans' behavior.
- The Home Affairs Committee is seeking more details to understand the decision.
- Politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, criticized the fan ban.
- The Safety Advisory Group labeled the match "high risk" due to potential unrest.
- Police reported concerns of vigilante groups targeting Maccabi fans.
