"The government has said it is "doing everything in our power" to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a football match in Birmingham and is exploring what additional resources could be required."
""No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are," a government spokesperson said. They added the government was working with police and other bodies to ensure the game could "safely go ahead with all fans present"."
"On Thursday, West Midlands Police said it had classified the fixture as "high risk" based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including "violent clashes and hate crime offences" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in Amsterdam in November 2024."
"More than 60 people were arrested over the violence, which city officials described as a "toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger" over the war in Gaza, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East."
Aston Villa reported that Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group decided Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be permitted to attend the Europa League fixture on 6 November due to safety concerns. The government is working with police, exploring additional resources, and expects a SAG meeting next week to address the decision. West Midlands Police classified the fixture as "high risk" based on current intelligence and previous incidents, citing violent clashes and hate crime offences in Amsterdam that led to more than 60 arrests. Political leaders criticised the move while also reaffirming opposition to antisemitism. The Home Office was briefed last week.
Read at www.bbc.com
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