Downing Street’s angry response to the barring of Israeli football supporters from a Birmingham match has been thrown into question after it emerged the government was notified of the plan a week in advance.
The Prime Minister expressed outrage on Thursday when Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were prohibited from attending next month’s Europa League clash at Aston Villa, declaring the move wrong and insisting Britain must not become a nation where people are told to avoid certain events.
However, the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit has now disclosed that the Home Office received a briefing last week detailing potential restrictions being considered by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group, including the possibility of banning visiting supporters entirely.
Policing Unit Reveals Timeline
In a statement released following the political backlash, the UKFPU explained it had assisted West Midlands Police in accessing comprehensive intelligence about violent incidents that occurred when Maccabi Tel Aviv previously played in Amsterdam.
The unit facilitated contact through European policing networks to ensure Birmingham officers possessed complete information before the Safety Advisory Group reached its determination.
Following this, the Home Office were briefed last week by the UKFPU about the potential issues and options that the Safety Advisory Group may take, including restrictions on visiting fans,” the policing unit confirmed.
The disclosure raises uncomfortable questions about why senior government figures appeared unprepared for Thursday’s announcement, despite advance knowledge that such a restriction was under active consideration.
Independent Bodies Make Decisions
The UKFPU emphasised that Safety Advisory Groups operate as independent entities comprising various local authorities, emergency services and council representatives who assess risks at sporting venues.
These bodies carry ultimate responsibility for matchday safety decisions, with the Sports Ground Safety Authority providing additional support throughout the evaluation process.
“It is important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions,” the statement read. “If there are any adverse incidents, then they are the ones that will be held responsible.”
The unit suggested that if ministers wish to influence decisions on major sporting occasions, Parliament would need to pass legislation creating formal powers and establishing clear accountability for government intervention in what it termed events of national significance.
This recommendation stems from the Casey Review commissioned after chaotic scenes outside Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 final in 2021.
Cabinet Ministers Seek Reversal
Despite the advance notification to Whitehall, three senior cabinet members are now scrambling to find a solution that would allow Israeli supporters to travel to the West Midlands for the fixture scheduled for 6 November.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Communities Secretary Steve Reed held urgent discussions on Friday aimed at overturning the local decision.
A Downing Street spokesman revealed the extent of the Prime Minister’s displeasure, stating Starmer was angered by how events had unfolded.
Starmer himself took to social media to criticise the ban, insisting police exist to protect all football fans from violence and intimidation rather than excluding them from matches. He vowed there would be no tolerance for antisemitism on British streets.
Cross-Party Condemnation
The Conservative Party leader joined the chorus of disapproval, with Kemi Badenoch describing the situation as a national disgrace that undermined government promises that Jewish people remain welcome and safe in Britain.
Sir Ed Davey, leading the Liberal Democrats, characterised the move as tackling antisemitism by punishing its victims, demanding the decision be reversed immediately.
Nigel Farage of Reform UK went further, claiming the ban represented racial discrimination reaching unprecedented levels and questioning whether Birmingham should host future international events if authorities cannot guarantee safety for a single match.
Local MP Takes Opposite View
Ayoub Khan, representing Birmingham Perry Barr as an independent, emerged as the ban’s most vocal parliamentary defender, insisting operational policing decisions should remain free from political interference.
Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Khan argued the Prime Minister had no business involving himself in matters properly determined by local safety officials and police commanders on the ground.
“We’re talking about violent fans, and I think the Prime Minister should stay out of operational matters,” Khan stated. “That’s not a matter for him sitting in Number 10 Downing Street.”
The MP referenced behaviour exhibited by some Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters during last year’s Amsterdam trip, including racist chanting that celebrated the destruction of schools in Gaza by suggesting no children remained alive to attend them.
Khan drew parallels with the exclusion of Russian sporting teams following the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting moral consistency demanded similar treatment for Israeli clubs whilst conflict continues in Gaza.
When the BBC presenter challenged whether banning all Israeli fans constituted antisemitism, Khan rejected the characterisation, arguing such accusations represented an attempt to conflate legitimate safety concerns with prejudice.
Police Defend Risk Assessment
West Midlands Police maintained their classification of the match as high risk stemmed from professional evaluation of available intelligence and historical precedents.
The force specifically cited last year’s Amsterdam violence, where more than 60 arrests followed clashes between Israeli supporters and local residents, with five individuals ultimately receiving prison sentences.
Contemporary reporting from Amsterdam described a complex situation where Maccabi fans faced coordinated attacks across the city, but also engaged in provocative behaviour including destroying Palestinian flags, damaging taxis and chanting inflammatory anti-Arab slogans.
Officers stated their judgement that excluding away supporters would reduce threats to public safety, whilst reaffirming commitment to impartial policing that balanced protest rights against security imperatives.
The force emphasised zero tolerance towards hate crimes regardless of the victims or perpetrators involved.
Jewish Community Responds
The Jewish Leadership Council issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it characterised as an absurd situation where victims required protection but were instead punished through exclusion.
The organisation suggested Aston Villa should face consequences for accepting the restriction, proposing the entire fixture be moved behind closed doors if police genuinely could not safeguard visiting supporters.
Andrew Fox, holding an honorary position with Aston Villa’s Jewish supporters’ group, interpreted the selective nature of the ban as conveying a political rather than purely safety-oriented message that would cause concern about broader societal attitudes.
Israel’s foreign ministry joined the criticism, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar branding the decision both shameful and cowardly whilst urging British authorities to reconsider.
Commissioner Demands Answers
Simon Foster, serving as Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, has formally requested an immediate review of how the determination was reached.
Foster asked to examine the Safety Advisory Group’s written rationale, operational planning documents for the match, and the detailed risk assessment prepared by West Midlands Police.
“The safety and security of all the people and communities of the West Midlands, including visitors to the West Midlands, is my top priority,” the commissioner declared. “That is absolute, unconditional and non-negotiable.”
UEFA Urges Resolution
European football’s governing body expressed disappointment at the restriction, stating fans should be able to support their teams in safe and welcoming environments across the continent.
UEFA encouraged all parties to identify appropriate security measures that would permit Israeli supporters to attend, whilst acknowledging local authorities retain ultimate responsibility for safety decisions within their territories.
The fixture represents Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first away Europa League match since protesters demonstrated outside the stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the team faced PAOK last month.
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Image Credit:
Shabana Mahmood — official portrait (cropped), licensed under CC BY 4.0
