Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans Banned from Europa League Match at Aston Villa
Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Issouf Sissokho encouraged his teammates to bring joy to their fans despite the ban on away supporters at their Europa League match against Aston Villa.
Security Measures and Fan Ban
The Israeli club’s supporters were barred from attending for public safety reasons. West Midlands police received section 60 stop-and-search powers and plan to deploy more than 700 officers around Villa Park to manage protests and potential unrest.
Reasons Behind the Ban
The ban was imposed by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group, citing current intelligence and past incidents, including violent clashes and hate crimes around Maccabi’s previous Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam last year.
Public Reaction
- The decision faced criticism, with some viewing it as yielding to antisemitism.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the ban the “wrong” decision.
- Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a “national disgrace.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Adaptation
In response, Maccabi announced in September that all four of their home Europa League matches this season will be played in Belgrade.
"It is very hard for us," said Issouf Sissokho, urging his team to make their supporters smile despite the absence.
Author's summary: Maccabi Tel Aviv faces a challenging Europa League game without away fans due to a ban linked to safety concerns and previous incidents, sparking political and public debate.
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