Israeli Fans Banned From Sports Game in UK 

Authorities in the U.K. have banned Israeli fans from attending a forthcoming soccer match in England over security risks.  

“Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as high risk,” West Midlands Police said in a statement Thursday as the department expressed support for a decision to “prohibit away supporters from attending” the game.  

A U.K. body responsible for issuing safety certificates for games, known as the Safety Advisory Group, made the decision, but is now being asked to reconsider.  

“I am shocked to my core with this outrageous decision to ban me, my family, and my friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the U.K.,” former hostage Emily Damari wrote on X.  

Hamas took Damari hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. She was released in January and, as a self-described “die hard fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv,” an Israeli professional sports club, Damari says she hopes authorities in the U.K. will come to their “senses and reconsider.” 

“I do wonder what exactly has become of British society, this is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying, ‘No Jews allowed,’” Damari said. “What has become of the U.K. where blatant antisemitism has become the norm? What a sad world we are living in.” 

The controversy over Israeli fans attending the soccer game in November is not the first time an Israeli sports team has faced the threat of violent protests in Europe. 

In July, the Australian Football League Europe faced pressure to bar the Israeli team from competing in a tournament in Amsterdam over concerns of violent anti-Israel protests amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The league and event organizers did not capitulate to political pressure, but instead increased security to ensure all players were kept safe and protesters were kept outside the arena. 

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also criticized the decision to bar Israeli fans from attending the game in England on Nov. 6.  

“This is the wrong decision,” Starmer said on X. “We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”  

In September, Starmer announced that the U.K. would formally recognize Palestine as a state. This week, the prime minister praised the role the U.K. played alongside the U.S. in securing a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.  

“We’ve worked behind the scenes for months with the U.S., Arab, and European nations to help deliver a ceasefire, get the hostages out, get aid in, and secure a better future for Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank,” Starmer told the House of Commons this week after attending the signing of President Donald Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan in Egypt. 

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold despite the fact that Hamas has failed to return the remains of 19 deceased hostages, claiming the bodies are inaccessible without special equipment. Israel continues to pressure Hamas to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and hostage deal.  

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