Villa fans divided over decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters

VIDEO SHOWS: B-ROLL OUTSIDE ASTON VILLA'S VILLA PARK/ SOUNDBITES FROM BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS ON VILLA NOT ALLOWING MACCABI TEL AVIV FANS TO ATTEND THEIR EUROPA LEAGUE MATCH/ B-ROLL OF BIRMINGHAM COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 17, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. EXTERIOR OF VILLA PARK 2. UNION FLAG FLYING OUTSIDE VILLA PARK 3. ASTON VILLA BADGE ON STADIUM EXTERIOR 4. WIDE SHOT OF VILLA PARK  5. ENGLAND FLAG DRAPED ON LION 6. EXTERIOR OF STADIUM 7. WIDE OF ASTON VILLA SIGN 8. CLOSE -UP OF ASTON VILLA SIGN 9. BANNER ON LAMPOST READING (English) "All of my heroes are Villans" 10. MURAL COMMEMORATING VILLA'S 1982 EUROPEAN CUP TRIUMPH 11. CLOSE UP OF MURAL 12. WIDE OF STAND AND PART OF STADIUM INTERIOR 13. CLOSE UP OF SEATS 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOOTBALL FAN, JACK DEATHRIDGE, SAYING:     "Well, I'm a bit surprised because we don't usually stop people from exercising their free will, I suppose. But I mean, I see what they're trying to do because it's very true. It might not be safe for them because, you know, there is a lot of stigma at the moment." 15. VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS WALKING IN BIRMINGHAM 16. SECURITY CAMERA 17.  (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOOTBALL FAN, JACK DEATHRIDGE SAYING:     'I mean, obviously I'm concerned for their safety, but I think… I think it's up to them if they want to come here, really, I suppose. We shouldn't make the decision for them." 18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASTON VILLA FAN ORIGINALLY FROM PALESTINE, ANNAS AHMED, SAYING: JOURNALIST ASKING: "Do you think Birmingham is safe? Do you think Aston Villa is safe?" ANNAS AHMED SAYING: "I think no. I think not safe." JOURNALIST ASKING: "Why?" ANNAS AHMED SAYING: "Because of the war, you know that. Yeah, this area (has a) war now.  I think not safe." 19. VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS IN BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE 20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BIRMINGHAM STUDENT, VICTOR ADEWMI, SAYING:     "I do understand, but at the end of the day, that's up to the person to decide because there's risk involved in anything. If I'm to go to a place that's, you know, maybe not a lot of people of my colour are, you know, welcome to.  At the end of the day, no one can really say to me, I can't go there. That's my decision. And if something does go wrong, it's only me that can, you know, put my hands up and say, 'hey, I'm going to have to hold that on my head.' But you can't really… you can safeguard, but banning people from going to a football game, I think that's kind of where you start crossing lines and stuff, you know." 21. PEDESTRIANS IN BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE 22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BIRMINGHAM FOOTBALL FAN, NAJEEB MUHAMMED, ON WHETHER THE MACCABI TEL AVIV FANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL, SAYING:     "I think that football should be watched by everyone. I'm like, it's like a sport that everyone loves. And, yeah, man, I think it's like, I think they should. I think they should (be able to attend)." 23. WIDE OF VILLA PARK EXTERIOR 24. PAN OF ASTON VILLA SIGN  25. CLOSE UP OF ASTON VILLA BADGE 26. SIGN READING (English) "Where our heroes are Villans" 27. PULL FOCUS SHOT OF SECURITY CAMERA ONTO ASTON VILLA FLAG 28. VARIOUS OF LION ON PLINTH 29. WIDE OF VILLA PARK STORY: No away supporters will be allowed to attend Aston Villa's home Europa League clash with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 6 after police raised public safety concerns about potential protests, the Premier League club said on Thursday (October 17). The move comes after there were protests at the Israel national team's World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy, with police using tear gas on protesters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Oslo and Udine. Villa said they were following instructions from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who are responsible for issuing safety certificates for games at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors. "Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture," Villa said in a statement. "West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night. "The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision." Reuters has contacted Maccabi Tel Aviv for comment. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the announcement. "This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets," Starmer said on X. "The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation." UEFA said it wanted fans to be able to travel and support their team in a "safe, secure and welcoming environment". "(UEFA) encourages both teams and the competent authorities to agree on the implementation of appropriate measures necessary to allow this to happen," UEFA said. "In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions related to the safety and security of matches taking place on their territory, such decisions being determined on the basis of thorough risk assessments, which vary from match to match and take into consideration previous circumstances." Villa are third in the Europa League standings while Maccabi Tel Aviv are 30th after two rounds. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Villa's announcement as a "shameful decision" on X. "I call on the UK authorities to reverse this coward decision," Saar wrote. Global soccer body FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football. The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has yet been taken, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino consistently saying such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution. Earlier this month, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani said Israel's continued participation in international football has to be dealt with first and foremost by UEFA. UEFA appeared poised for an emergency vote on suspending Israel from European competition last month but reportedly held off on a proposed vote following the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the region. (Production: Gerhard Mey, Oliver Regan, Conal Quinn)

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