Red Card In Foreign Policy: Why UK Is Facing A Diplomatic Storm With Israel Over Football

Last Updated:October 17, 2025, 18:15 IST

The local SAG barred Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the November 6 match after West Midlands Police cited public safety concerns

The move triggered backlash from Israel, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calling it a “shameful" and “coward" decision. (AFP file photo)

The UK government is holding urgent talks to reverse a ban on fans of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football club attending an upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa, following widespread backlash.

The decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the Europa League match on November 6 was taken by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), after West Midlands Police raised public safety concerns.

But the move triggered backlash from Israel, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calling it a “shameful" and “coward" decision. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, calling the ban “wrong" and stressing the importance of tackling antisemitism.

“We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation," Starmer wrote on X.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed on Friday that talks were ongoing “at pace" across different government departments to try to resolve the issue. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is expected to meet Home Office officials and other groups involved in the decision.

UEFA, which organises the Europa League, has called for all parties to work together to allow Maccabi fans to attend, suggesting extra security measures could be put in place.

West Midlands Police defended their advice to the SAG, saying the match had been assessed as “high risk" due to previous violent incidents involving Maccabi supporters, including in Amsterdam last year when fans clashed with protesters.

“This decision is 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 spokesperson for the West Midlands force said.

Some UK politicians, mainly from left-wing and Green parties, supported the ban and called for wider sporting boycotts of Israeli teams due to the war in Gaza.

But many Maccabi fans say they feel unfairly targeted. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who survived Hamas’s October 7 attack and was held hostage for over a year, said the ban was “disgusting" and would stop her from supporting her team.

“Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite," she said in a statement.

(With inputs from AFP)

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