Decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa match challenged by Dutch police

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondentJanuary 12, 2026 at 08:45 PM

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A decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham in November 2024 is under scrutiny. The ban, enacted by a Birmingham safety committee based on intelligence from West Midlands Police (WMP), sparked accusations of antisemitism and prompted an official inquiry. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) investigated WMP's intelligence, specifically claims about Maccabi fan behavior during a match against Ajax in Amsterdam. Dutch police have challenged the credibility of WMP's claims, stating that key details, such as the scale of violence and targeting of Muslim communities, were inaccurate. HMIC's findings, expected soon, are anticipated to be critical of WMP's handling of the intelligence, potentially impacting future decisions regarding fan bans.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gaza 40% Ajax 40% Birmingham ×260% Shabana Mahmood ×265% Amsterdam ×570% Aston Villa ×270% His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) ×575% West Midlands Police (WMP) ×680% Dutch Police ×785% Maccabi Tel Aviv ×890%

Keywords

football match ban 90% maccabi tel aviv fans 80% dutch police 70% west midlands police 70% antisemitism 60% police intelligence 60% hmic inquiry 50% violence 50% aston villa 40% pro-palestinian supporters 40%