Villa tie faces backlash over Maccabi fans ban

Aston Villa
October 2025

West Midlands Police advised banning Maccabi fans from Villa Park to avoid violence. The move drew sharp criticism from Israel’s foreign minister and UK leaders who argue policing should enable safe attendance. Prior incidents around Maccabi away fixtures prompted a risk-averse stance. Political pressure now targets a reversal before matchday. Any change depends on revised risk assessments and stewarding plans.