Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from attending Villa Park for Europa League clash
It is due to worries over safety
Fans of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv will not be allowed to attend the club's Europa League visit to Aston Villa amid public safety fears.
In a statement issued on its website, Villa said Birmingham'sSafety Advisory Group had "formally written to the club and Uefa to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend" next month's fixture at Villa Park.
The club statement said the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of "physical and safety factors".
The statement added: "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."
West Midlands Police said it has a strong track record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events.
A spokesman for the force said: "We are committed to delivering fair and impartial policing, while balancing the public's right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.
"Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as high risk.
"We have actively engaged with a wide range of local partners and community representatives in preparation for this fixture, and continue to participate in the Safety Advisory Group.
"While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.
"This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam."
The force said that, based on officers' professional judgment, it believed the measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
"We remain steadfast in our support all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms," the police spokesman added.