West Midlands Police say the Maccabi fan ban was due to hooliganism

West Midlands Police have defended their silence over a “major riot” among Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, which they now confirm is the reason they were banned from attending their Europa League clash with Aston Villa.

More than 700 officers from 20 police forces were deployed near Villa Park on Thursday, as hundreds took part in demonstrations against the controversial decision.

When it emerged in October that fans of the Israeli club would not be welcomed, senior MPs, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, said it amounted to anti-Semitism.

Jack Angelides, chief executive of Maccabi Tel Aviv, told the BBC that the team’s fan ban meant “it was time for some reflection and contemplation”.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford has been asked to appear before the Home Affairs Committee to explain the reasons behind the ban, by the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group.

He defended the move to the BBC, but so far the force has remained mum on the intelligence on which the decision was based.

Shortly before the match, Ch Insp Tom Joyce said it was due to “assessing the risks that come with accepting traveling fans”.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson explained on Friday: “Our original statement did not go into detail as it was not necessary or helpful at the time.

“As political commentary on anti-Semitism developed, our priority was to engage key stakeholders within the Jewish community.

“We explained the riot element to them very frankly, and since then we have been working with community members on how to deal with this very sensitive issue.”

On Thursday evening, hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters gathered outside the grounds, waving signs and flags.

Although there were some minor scuffles with Villa fans falling to the ground, West Midlands Police said the night “passed without major incidents, and without serious disturbances or disruption to the match.”

Ten people were arrested, including some on charges of committing racist violations against pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups.

Five remain in detention, including a 21-year-old man accused of trying to throw fireworks at Villa Park and two men, aged 34 and 29, charged with racist public disorder after they shouted obscenities at pro-Israel demonstrators.

Two people were cautioned, two were released without further action, and a 21-year-old man was charged with failing to remove a face covering during a Section 60 order – temporary police powers that allow them to stop and search anyone.

Expectations on social media that tens of thousands would come to demonstrate outside the grounds did not materialize.

Small groups of young people were seen trying to provoke a reaction, but the police were quick to push them away.

About 20 minutes before the match started, several hundred people were pointing at pro-Palestinian demonstrators and singing the name of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, but a line of officers and police stopped them.

Footage collected from police drones as well as from body-worn cameras will be studied over the coming days and weeks and could lead to more arrests.

Jack Angelides, CEO of Maccabi Tel Aviv, questioned the ban again on Friday.

He told the BBC: “Why, in decades of European travel with the club, was this the only country that banned our fans and this is the only country where we were told it was unsafe for us to stay in the city where we were playing the match?”

“I don’t know what that means, but I think it’s time for some introspection and contemplation about why that happens.”

However, former Metropolitan Police officer Ron Winch said the force had “struck the right balance” in maximizing safety by adhering to the decision.

“Policing in football has changed a lot in recent years and has become more reliant on supervisors,” he said. “But the number of police had to be this high because the police did not know what emergency they would need.”

“The villa park is one of those old estates with residential streets, so it is very easy for the police to reach and close it down if necessary.

“My view is that credit goes to West Midlands Police for sticking by their decision.”

Adil Parker, of Al Falah Mosque, near Trinity Road parking in Villa Park, said he felt the evening had been “generally very safe”.

He added: “From our side, and from a security perspective, we fully commend the police for the work they did last night, because things could have easily gone wrong.”

“We are in a place where we can apologize to West Midlands Police following some of the statements that have been made from politicians recently and nationally.”

Following the ban, Sir Keir criticized the move, saying: “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets” and that the police’s role was to “ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation”.

Culture Minister Lisa Nandy claimed that the police’s risk assessment was “largely based on the risk to those fans who come to support Maccabi Tel Aviv because they are Israeli and because they are Jewish.”

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as a “national disgrace”.

She wrote on X that the prime minister should “ensure that Jewish fans can enter any football stadium in this country.”