Aston Villa have been knowledgeable that no away followers can be permitted to attend their upcoming Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Villa will host the Israeli facet on November 6 at Villa Park.
However the away finish can be empty, with the fixture designated as “excessive threat” by West Midlands Police, which mentioned the choice was “primarily based on present intelligence and former incidents, together with violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred throughout the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.
Sixty-two folks have been arrested in Amsterdam amid dysfunction surrounding the sport within the Dutch capital.
An announcement from Aston Villa learn: “Aston Villa can affirm the membership has been knowledgeable that no away followers might attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Security Advisory Group.
“The Security Advisory Group (SAG) are accountable for issuing security certificates for each match at Villa Park, primarily based on a lot of bodily and security elements.
“Following a gathering this afternoon [Thursday], the SAG have formally written to the membership and UEFA to advise no away followers can be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.
“West Midlands Police have suggested the SAG that they’ve public security issues exterior the stadium bowl and the flexibility to take care of any potential protests on the evening.
“The membership are in steady dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the native authorities all through this ongoing course of, with the security of supporters attending the match and the security of native residents on the forefront of any resolution.”
A West Midlands Police spokesperson mentioned: “We’re dedicated to delivering truthful and neutral policing, whereas balancing the general public’s proper to protest with our obligation to make sure public security.
“Following a radical evaluation, now we have categorised the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as excessive threat.
“Whereas the security certificates is issued by Birmingham Metropolis Council, West Midlands Police helps the choice to ban away supporters from attending.
“This resolution is predicated on present intelligence and former incidents, together with violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred throughout the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.”
