Aston Villa hosts have reported that they could miss the Maccabi Tel Aviv match

Requests to be absent from a match must be submitted at least four business days before the match.

West Midlands Police said on Thursday it supported the ban, adding that it had rated the match as “high risk” based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including “violent clashes and hate crimes” between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of the match in Amsterdam in November 2024.

More than 60 people were arrested due to the violence.

After the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban was announced on Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the move as “wrong”, adding: “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets.” There was also criticism from leaders of other parties.

At the time, Villa said he was informed of the decision after “instructions from SAG.” They added that West Midlands Police told SAG they had “concerns regarding public safety outside the stadium and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night”.

The club said that it is in “continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of fans attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”

Birmingham City Council said SAG, which advises the council on safety certification, would review the decision if West Midlands Police changed its risk assessment of the match.

The villa is represented by SAG, along with the local authority, police and other emergency services.

The Home Office was informed of the possibility of restrictions on visiting fans last week, but the BBC was told that officials were not informed of the final decision until Thursday.