Maccabi say rivals to blame for crowd trouble while UK government still wants ban lifted for Aston Villa game
British police will investigate whether fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv bear any blame for violence at an Israeli football match on Sunday that led to the game being abandoned.
Police and authorities have faced criticism over a decision last week to ban Maccabi fans from attending a Europa League game against Aston Villa in Birmingham on 6 November.
Keir Starmer criticised the decision and there have been claims authorities were giving in to antisemitism. But sources say a key factor in the decision was fears that Maccabi fans could cause trouble during their visit.
The decision to ban Maccabi fans was made by Birmingham’s safety advisory group and relied heavily on the police’s view of the likelihood and potential sources of violence.
