UK football policing body contacts Israeli authorities over disorder at Tel Aviv derby

The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) has contacted Israeli authorities following disorder at Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby between Hapoel and Maccabi, as officials review the recent decision to bar fans from Birmingham next month.

Downing Street confirmed that discussions with Israeli police are underway, stressing that Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains angered by the ban on Maccabi supporters.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We absolutely recognise the concerns raised by police due to previous incidents in Europe and recent events in Tel Aviv, and we condemn any violent behaviour.

“We understand the UK Football Policing Unit are reaching out to their Israeli counterparts to gain an understanding of what happened at last night’s match in Tel Aviv.

“But as we’ve said, we want to ensure that all fans can enjoy the Aston Villa game safely early next month.”

“We want to ensure that all fans can enjoy the Aston Villa game safely next month.”

Jewish News understands there is a meeting involving police chiefs in Birmingham on Monday at which calls to lift the ban on travelling Maccabi fans is beeing discussed.

Footage from Tel Aviv showed clashes involving primarily Hapoel fans, a factor now being evaluated by UK authorities as they assess the security risk surrounding the match at Villa Park on November 6.

It emerged on Monday that the government has asked the police to tell it what “additional resources” are needed to police the game safely.

No.10 insisted  Starmer will do “everything in his power” to ensure travelling fans can come to next month’s game.

The decision to ban Maccabi fans was made by West Midlands Police, following advice from the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group (SAG)—an independent panel including local council, police, and emergency services representatives.

No.10 has denied reports that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could have acted sooner to prevent the ban, stating she was only informed of the final SAG decision on Thursday, having been alerted to concerns earlier in the week.

The government maintains that the SAG operates independently in such matters.

However, questions have been raised about the impartiality of the decision, after reports emerged that two local councillors—one Liberal Democrat and one Labour—had expressed support for MP Ayoub Khan’s campaign to ban fans prior to the SAG’s final ruling.

MP Khan went on the offensive on Monday, claiming footage from Sunday’s match in Israel vindicated his campaign to ban fans.

Sunday’s game in Tel Aviv was cancelled over police security fears.

Maccabi have distanced themselves from the disturbances which led to the derby being called off. There were reports of smoke grenades and flares being thrown, but Maccabi insist their supporters did nothing to contribute to the game’s cancellation.

A club spokesperson said “Maccabi Tel Aviv FC would like to clarify that the reason given for the cancellation of the derby match hosted yesterday by Hapoel Tel Aviv FC – unlike as reported by some (foreign) media – was as a result of flares thrown on to the pitch by fans of our opponent Hapoel Tel Aviv, not visiting fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv.”

West Midlands Police said last week they supported a decision by the local SAG to bar visiting fans from the Europa League tie against Villa, having classified the fixture as “high risk”.

They said the decision was “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.”

A joint statement from the chairmen of the Israeli Football Association and the Israeli Professional Football Leagues said the cancellation of the Tel Aviv derby was due to the “criminal behaviour of a sickening handful of offenders”.

The statement added: “In recent years, we have made tremendous progress to avoid matches without fans, neutral-venue punishments and similar measures. We have enjoyed remarkable co-operation from the clubs and from the vast majority of outstanding supporters.

“The only element that was missing then – and was missing before and after the Tel Aviv derby – is a legislative change that is not in our hands – strict enforcement, deterrent punishment and a true eradication of the hooligan phenomenon that destroys everything beautiful about our game.”

Media reports in Israel said Tel Aviv police arrested five people on suspicion of disturbing public order and that 51 flares or smoke bombs had been thrown on to the pitch.