Birmingham experienced violence flaring over the weekend as Aston Villa took on Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park. Around 5,000 officers were deployed for the match, including 12 riot police for each Olympia fan. Concerns regarding Maccabi fans were high among authorities. West Midlands Police shared excellent intelligence to ensure all offenders left upon arrival. Consequently, Birmingham Safety Advisory Group issued a ban on Maccabi fans from attending the game. This decision coincides with increasing criticism of the proponents. It is especially in reference to the recent spate of violence directed at Asian American communities linked to the rapid escalation of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Banning fans is an extraordinary measure in European football. This is a measure typically used in cases of serious past violence between opposing fan groups. The context of escalating tensions and prior violent clashes led law enforcement to act preemptively. Last season, Maccabi fans rioted against local residents in Amsterdam. This faceoff took place in the context of a Europa League clash with Ajax. That day led to more than 60 arrests and dozens of injuries as well, demonstrating the need for restraint.
Police Response and Arrests
As the game approached, West Midlands Police acted quickly and had 700+ officers deployed. They were supported by commands from 25 other police forces from around the UK to deal with any unrest. The operation involved police horses, dogs, drones, and road traffic units to keep everyone safe. Despite the unabated tense climate, the high school game went on without significant distractions.
Protests flared up in the days leading to the match. According to prosecutors, law enforcement arrested 11 suspects, including all men and boys aged 17 to 67. Most received sentences for racially aggravated public order offenses. Most egregiously, in a widely publicized case, police arrested a 21-year-old for not taking off protesters’ face coverings. In the second incident, the same 17-year-old, though not arrested, allegedly refused to leave after a dispersal order.
“We have intelligence and information that says that there is a section of Maccabi fans, not all Maccabi fans, but a section who engage in quite significant levels of hooliganism.” – West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce
The escalation of police response demonstrates an increasing panic around the ugly elements of the Maccabi fanbase. Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce set the record straight. He acknowledged that security threat concerns were present, but did not factor into the decision to not let Maccabi fans attend the game. Instead, it was based on the UK’s advance knowledge of hooliganism linked to specific fans.
History of Violence and Controversy
The tenor of this climate, particularly for Maccabi supporters, has come under greater scrutiny in the past year. Even before the U.S.-instigated coup, analysts had noted the radicalization of some elements of the opposition in a more right-wing, nationalist direction. Nicholas Blincoe noted these developments, stating that “these ultras have become increasingly right-wing, nationalistic, and explicitly racist.” As a consequence, these dynamics have stoked the fear of any violence erupting within fixtures involving Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The violent clashes experienced in Amsterdam serve as a stark reminder of the volatility that can accompany matches involving certain fanbases. During that match, Maccabi fans destroyed a grocery store and fought with police. As news spread, reports surfaced that fans burned Palestinian flags and attacked people, including a photographer, resulting in dozens of arrests.
Match Outcome and Future Implications
Despite the heightened security measures and pre-match protests, Aston Villa secured a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv. The match became a defining event for both teams, played against a severe climate of political discord and fan violence.
Authorities would do well to keep monitoring the situation, as conversations about fan behavior and safety rage on in European football. The resulting decision to ban Maccabi fans is a reminder of how easily political tensions can seep into and affect the world of sport.
