Away followers banned from attending ‘excessive threat’ Europa League fixture

Aston Villa have been knowledgeable that no away followers shall be permitted to attend their upcoming Europa League fixture towards Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Villa will host the Israeli facet on November 6 at Villa Park.

However the away finish shall be empty, with the fixture designated as “excessive threat” by West Midlands Police, which mentioned the choice was “based mostly on present intelligence and former incidents, together with violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred in the course of the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.

Sixty-two folks had been arrested in Amsterdam amid dysfunction surrounding the sport within the Dutch capital.

A press release from Aston Villa learn: “Aston Villa can verify the membership has been knowledgeable that no away followers could attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Security Advisory Group.

“The Security Advisory Group (SAG) are answerable for issuing security certificates for each match at Villa Park, based mostly on various bodily and security elements.

“Following a gathering this afternoon [Thursday], the SAG have formally written to the membership and UEFA to advise no away followers shall be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.

“West Midlands Police have suggested the SAG that they’ve public security issues outdoors the stadium bowl and the flexibility to cope with any potential protests on the night time.

“The membership are in steady dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the native authorities all through this ongoing course of, with the protection of supporters attending the match and the protection of native residents on the forefront of any determination.”

A West Midlands Police spokesperson mentioned: “We’re dedicated to delivering honest and neutral policing, whereas balancing the general public’s proper to protest with our obligation to make sure public security.

“Following an intensive evaluation, we now have labeled the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as excessive threat.

“Whereas the protection certificates is issued by Birmingham Metropolis Council, West Midlands Police helps the choice to ban away supporters from attending.

“This determination is predicated on present intelligence and former incidents, together with violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred in the course of the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.”