Cachella Smith
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

Government officials, including representatives of the Home Office, convened at the last moment this afternoon after a decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an upcoming fixture against Aston Villa prompted a flood of criticism.

Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) made the call after having received a risk assessment from West Midlands Police. The force categorised the event as "high-risk" - explaining it had taken into account both intelligence and recent incidents, including "violent clashes" during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match in Amsterdam.

The group and the local council have now said that decision will be reviewed if there is a change to the risk assessment - but the government has faced repeated calls to intervene.

According to the Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), the Home Office was briefed last week that such a ban would be a possibility. It is understood that the department did not know of the final decision until it became public last night.

Keir Starmer has said he is "angered" by the move and will do "everything in his power" to reverse the ban.

Other political leaders have also pitted themselves against the decision - including Kemi Badenoch, who called it a "national disgrace", and Ed Davey, who said he wants the decision reversed "as soon as possible".

However, it remains unclear what actions are open for the government to take as the decision ultimately falls to the local authority.

In a statement released just now, a government spokesperson says: “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are.

“The government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.

"We are exploring what additional resources and support are required so all fans can attend.”

We'll be ending our live coverage now - but you can stay updated through our news story.

Image source, Getty Images

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee are demanding that West Midlands Police explain its role in the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending an away match in Birmingham next month.

Its chair, Caroline Dinenage, has written to Chief Constable Craig Guildford to express her worries.

"We are deeply concerned that your force does not believe it is capable of keeping football fans safe were away fans, including those who live in the UK, to be allowed to attend the match," the letter reads.

Among other demands, the committee asks to know the reasons the force doesn't believe it could police the match if Maccabi fans attended.

Earlier today, West Midlands Police said it supported the decision and that it had classified the fixture as "high-risk".

Image source, PA Media

Earlier, we reported that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood knew that the Maccabi fans would be banned from attending the Aston Villa match next month, but "did nothing" about it.

A source close to Mahmood now tells the BBC that "this is categorically untrue".

"The first time the home secretary knew that the fans were being banned was last night," they say.

“Rather than baseless political point scoring, the home secretary is working tirelessly to ensure all fans can attend the game safely.”

Separately, the BBC understands that the Home Office was briefed on a ban being considered, but not on a decision being taken.

A moment ago, we brought you comments from Kemi Badenoch, who suggested Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has "serious questions to answer".

This came after the UK Football Policing Unit said it had briefed the Home Office on the potential issues authorities might face - including restrictions on visiting fans.

The BBC understands the Home Office was briefed on a ban being considered but that no decision had been taken.

It is also understood that the home secretary was not informed of the final decision until it was made public on Thursday night.

The BBC has contacted the Home Office for comment.

Image source, Reuters

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has "serious questions to answer" over Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being banned from attending a football game against Aston Villa next month.

She's referring to a briefing the UK Footballing Police Unit says it gave the Home Office – the government department Mahmood oversees – last week. (The BBC has approached the Home Office for comment)

In that briefing, the unit, which advises police on security at football matches, says it told the department of potential issues that might arise at next months' match, including restrictions on visiting fans.

"[Mahmood] knew Jewish football fans were being banned from a UK stadium, and did nothing," Badenoch says.

"The home secretary has serious questions to answer."

The BBC has approached the Home Office for comment.

Maccabi fan ban could have serious legal repercussionspublished at 16:04 BST 17 October

16:04 BST 17 October

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans increasingly looks like it could lead to serious legal action for discrimination.

Pressure group Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has already begun the process of challenging the ban.

It says that the ban appears to involve “an instruction to commit direct discrimination against Israelis and/or indirect discrimination against both Israelis and Jews".

And that, it says, is race discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 - a serious matter for the courts.

Our anti-discrimination and human rights laws protect people from policies that weren’t meant to single them out, but end up doing so as an unintended consequence. This is what CAA refers to when it mentions “indirect discrimination”.

In practical terms almost all - if not all - Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be Israeli, Jewish or both.

So, the ban on Maccabi fans going to Aston Villa does not just affect them as fans, it affects them as people who are Israeli or Jewish.

What does that mean in legal terms?

“There can be discrimination of both characteristics,” says Adam Wagner KC, a senior human rights barrister, who agrees there is a serious question about whether the ban is lawful.

Gabriela Pomeroy
Live reporter

Image source, Gal Binyanmin Tshuva

A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan who was attacked during the violence in Amsterdam last year tells me he thinks “quite frankly the decision not to allow Maccabi fans in Birmingham is an abomination".

Gal Binyanmin Tshuva was ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam after travelling there to watch his team.

The attackers asked to see his passport, Gal says, and he was then beaten to the ground and kicked. "I woke up in an ambulance with blood all over my face, and realised they had broken two of my teeth."

What happened in Amsterdam means “unfortunately, I will probably not support my team abroad anymore in Europe,” Gal says.

“It’s a shame the UK police cannot take responsibility for the fans of an international team," he says, adding that it is a "terrible sign for the safety of tourists".

Tom Joyner
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

There's been a flurry of updates so far today, making it easy to get lost. Here's a breakdown of what the key parties have said so far:

Aston Villa: The club says it is in "continuous dialogue" with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities, with the safety of supporters and local residents a priority. Villa fans who spoke to the BBC agreed fan safety and security is the most important thing.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: The club's CEO says there's been "some dismay about what this potentially is signalling". Many fans of the club in Tel Aviv say the decision has been about "politics".

Birmingham Safety Action Group: The group - which is made up of several professional authorities - says it will review its earlier decision if West Midlands Police changes its risk assessment for the match.

Birmingham City Council: The council leader, John Cotton, says Keir Starmer was right to call the Maccabi fan ban the "wrong decision".

West Midlands Police: The force supports the ban, classifying the fixture as "high-risk". The region's police and crime commissioner, however, has asked to see the police assessment and requested an immediate review.

UK Football Policing Unit: The unit says it briefed the Home Office last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans.

PM Keir Starmer: A spokesperson says Starmer is "angered" by the ban, and promises to do "everything in his power" to ensure all fans can go to the match.

There’s been plenty of political reaction, too, with most parties opposing the decision to ban Maccabi fans.

Image source, PA Media

Earlier, we brought you an update from the UK Football Policing Unit, which advises forces on security at football matches.

In that earlier update, the police football unit said it had briefed the Home Office last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans.

The unit also says that if the government wants to treat football matches as "events of national significance", it needs to change the law, so that there is accountability with people making decisions.

It adds it is making this suggestion in light of the Casey Review, a damning 2023 report into deep failings of the Metropolitan Police, as well as disorder ahead of the 2021 Euro men's final at Wembley stadium.

In the latter's case, drunkenness, disorder and violence erupted as 2,000 people without tickets managed to get into the stadium, causing what has been described as a "national day of shame".

Former Northumbria chief constable Sue Sim tells the BBC's World at One that the banning of Maccabi fans is not a decision she would have made.

If the intelligence reflects that there is a security concern, she says, "my view is the game should have been played behind closed doors with no fans able to attend".

She underlines that she does not believe either the advisory group's decision or the police force's advice is antisemitic.

Rather, it's about the resources required to make sure the football match is peaceful.

"I think that's probably why the decision was taken to ban one set of fans - but that is not being fair to both sets of fans," she says.

"If there is intelligence to say the away fans should be stopped - then it should be communicated [...] so the public and everyone else understand."

Navtej Johal
Midlands correspondent

The Villa fans we've spoken to outside the stadium today all agree - safety and security for local fans and their families is the most important thing, and the decision to ban travelling fans is the right one.

"We have enough trouble when Walsall play," season ticket holder Lee Goodman, 51, tells me. "I’m sure it’s the correct decision, it’s just a shame for the genuine fans."

Marshall Spires, 32, says it's "hard to not have politics get involved".

"If [the safety decision] means Villa fans can come down the ground and it's safe, then that's all that matters to me."

David Moss, 51, says: "My view is that if it’s going to cause friction, trouble, I would say they shouldn't really be travelling, because I don't want anyone on the Villa side or Tel Aviv side to get injured.

"It’s the right decision for security and for players and fans. [But] it’s a shame, people want to come and watch their team play in Europe."

Image source, Jess Hornby - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images

If you’re just joining us, here’s a roundup of what’s been happening so far.

• Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) says it will review a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a match with Aston Villa if police change their risk assessment
• The ban on the Europa League match on 6 November is based on security concerns, with West Midlands Police labelling it as "high-risk"

• But it has sparked strong reactions from the government, with Downing Street saying it has "angered" the prime minister, who stresses that the police's role is "to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game"
• However, the Home Office was already briefed last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans, according to the UK Football Policing Unit - we've approached the Home Office for comment

• The national police unit also says it supports the decision to ban Maccabi fans, adding that the SAG will have to be responsible if there are any adverse incidents
• No 10 says discussions to resolve the issue are happening "at pace", with updates expected today

Stay with us for all the latest.

Banning Maccabi fans is a mistake and plays into the hands of "bigots" who called for next month's match to be cancelled, says a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London.

"It seems that the bigotry showed towards the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is very direct," Alex Gandler tells the BBC News Channel. "And we all know why it is."

"It's because they are Israeli, and that's because they are Jewish."

Gandler says the problem isn't with the fans travelling to Birmingham to watch the game - it's with individuals who might threaten or attack them.

"Where should the pressure [be directed]?," he adds.

We've just received a statement from Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group, which has decided to ban Maccabi fans from attending next month's match at Villa Park.

The group says it will review its decision if West Midlands Police changes its risk assessment for the match.

Here's the statement in full:

"The Safety Advisory Group has made a decision based on a risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police.

"If there is a change in the assessment of risk in the forthcoming match between Aston Villa Football Club and Maccabi Tel Aviv, then the Safety Advisory Group will commit to review its decision as appropriate."

• What is Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group? Find out here

Villa Park's location puts police in a tricky positionpublished at 13:51 BST 17 October

13:51 BST 17 October

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM

Image source, Action Images/Reuters

There was significant disorder outside Villa Park when Legia Warsaw fans visited two years ago - ultimately leading to them not being allowed to enter the ground.

Although the circumstances were entirely different, it did show how disruptive violence on that scale can be in the area around the stadium.

Villa Park isn’t in a cleared area on the edge of town - like many new-builds - but is surrounded by narrow, densely populated streets.

Villa want to be good neighbours. Their statement on Thursday, external underlined that the safety of both football supporters attending the match and local residents would be "at the forefront of any decision".

Even if the authorities find a way to achieve that, doing so without inflaming emotions across all interested groups will be challenging.

Image source, Getty Images

The Safety Advisory Group's decision to ban Maccabi fans comes as reports of disorder at football matches rise, putting more strain on the police.

In July, the Home Office said the number of reported incidents of disorder - including football-related violence, anti-social behaviour and harm - increased from 1,341 in 2023-24 to 1,583 during the 2024-25 season.

Arrests, however, dropped by 11% from 2,167 to 1,932.

At the time, the National Police Chiefs' Council said the "worrying level of offending at men's football matches across the country" is putting extra pressure on the police.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, football policing lead, said the figures show "why it is essential that football clubs need to start paying their fair share towards policing matches".

That idea has also been put forward by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who said earlier that month that clubs should contribute to the £70m cost of policing matches.

Image source, PA Media

A national police unit that advises on security at football matches has backed the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from next month's match in Birmingham.

The UK Football Policing Unit, which is made up of senior officers, gives advice to police forces in England and Wales.

In a statement, the unit says it briefed the Home Office last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans.

"It is important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions," the statement reads.

"If there are any adverse incidents, then [the Safety Advisory Group and Sports Ground Safety Authority] are the ones that will be held responsible."

Maccabi fans on the streets of Tel Aviv have been sharing their criticism of the ban, with one saying it was "all about politics".

"Sport doesn't need to involve politics," says another, adding he thinks Maccabi fans should be able to travel to England to watch the game against Aston Villa.

Asked if he thought it would be safe, he says: "I hope so."

Pressure group Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) says it plans to bring a judicial review over the decision to ban Maccabi fans from the November fixture.

"Our lawyers are writing to the council and police in accordance with the pre-action protocol for judicial review," a statement from CAA says.

"Police forces and local councils must do whatever it takes to ensure that Britain is safe for everyone.

"We will do whatever it takes to overturn this pernicious ban which has humiliated and angered the whole country."

Just as a reminder, the purpose of a judicial review is for a judge to assess whether a decision or action from a public body was lawful. It looks at the way a decision was made, rather than whether the decision itself is right or wrong.

Leila Nathoo
Political correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Let's bring you more from Downing Street.

It says the prime minister is "angered" by the decision to stop Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending the Aston Villa game and has promised to do "everything in his power" to ensure all fans can go to the match.

The prime minister's deputy spokesperson says that while "of course it is an operational decision", the government is "perfectly entitled" to speak out on issues of principle and fairness.

"Football has been a unifying force for decades, everyone should be able to attend a football match without fear of violence or intimidation, regardless of their religion, nationality or background," the spokesperson says.

"We cannot have a country where we have to tell people to stay away from an event because they can't be protected or they may be a victim of racism."

No 10 says ministers from across government have been urgently working to support police and the local authority to ensure all fans could enjoy the game.

The spokesperson says discussions began last night and are continuing and that further updates were expected later in the day.