Aston Villa has warned that any fan displaying political messages or flags during their upcoming Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv will be thrown out of the stadium and banned.
The club made the announcement ahead of the November 6 fixture, which has been surrounded by controversy following Villa’s decision to ban Israeli fans from attending, based on security advice from West Midlands Police.
Authorities raised concerns that away supporters could face anti-Semitic attacks and that protests might disrupt the game.
In a statement on Tuesday, Aston Villa said:
“As per UEFA guidance, displaying political symbols, messages or flags during the match is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate ejection and a stadium ban.”
The club also reminded fans that only those with a booking history up to the 2024/25 season can buy tickets and warned that anyone caught reselling tickets would lose their season pass.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans has sparked outrage among Jewish communities and political leaders. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the move as “wrong,” while Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, called it “shameful.”
Despite the backlash, Maccabi Tel Aviv later announced that they would not sell tickets to their supporters due to safety concerns.
The tension increased after far-right activist Tommy Robinson posted a photo wearing a Maccabi Tel Aviv shirt on social media, declaring his support for the banned fans. His involvement, according to reports, was “the final straw” that pushed Maccabi to confirm their supporters would stay away.
A source told Jewish News:
“The risk from anti-Israel protesters was already serious, but Robinson’s involvement made it worse. There was concern that his supporters might pose as Maccabi fans and cause trouble.”
Even without away supporters, the match is still considered a high-risk event. Birmingham, which has a large Muslim population, has seen several demonstrations since the Gaza conflict began.
UEFA rules state that at least five percent of stadium seats should be reserved for away fans, but local authorities can overrule that for safety reasons.
West Midlands Police said the decision was made after assessing “previous incidents,” including anti-Semitic attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans during a Europa League match in Amsterdam last year, which led to 68 arrests.
“The decision to prohibit away supporters was made in the interest of safety,” police said.
