West Midlands Police release fresh statement on Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban for Aston Villa clash
West Midlands Police have hit back at suggestions that fake claims were used to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their Europa League match with Aston Villa earlier this month.
There was controversy on November 6, with supporters of the Israeli side prevented from attending the fixture.
Over the weekend, The Sunday Times claimed that West Midlands Police’s decision to enforce a ban was due to claims in a confidential dossier that said when Maccabi played Ajax in Amsterdam last year, fans of the club threw ‘innocent members of the public into the river’.
The report also alleged that 5,000 Dutch police officers had been deployed in response.
The Netherlands’ national police force later questioned that, however, insisting it categorically was ‘not true’.
Now, however, West Midlands Police have defended their call and insisted that they’d pursued all the right avenues before making the controversial decision.
“West Midlands Police’s evaluation was based primarily on information and intelligence and had public safety at its heart,” they said in a statement.
West Midlands Police have hit back at suggestions that fake claims were used to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their Europa League match with Aston Villa earlier this month
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“We assessed the fixture between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam as having involved significant public disorder.
“We met with Dutch police on 1 October, where information relating to that 2024 fixture was shared with us.
“Informed by information and intelligence, we concluded that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters – specifically the subgroup known as the Maccabi Fanatics – posed a credible threat to public safety.
Aston Villa went ahead against Maccabi Tel Aviv through Ian Maatsen
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“The submission made to the SAG was based on information and intelligence which helped shape understanding of the risks.
“West Midlands Police commissioned a peer review, which was conducted by UKFPU, the NPCC and subject matter experts.
“This review, carried out on 20 October, fully endorsed the force’s approach and decision-making.
“We are satisfied that the policing strategy and operational plan was effective, proportionate, and maintained the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”
The statement comes after West Midlands Police chief superintendent Tom Joyce spoke on the subject, insisting they’d been well-informed before taking action.
“We’ve had examples where a section of Maccabi fans were targeting people not involved in football matches, and certainly we had an incident in Amsterdam last year which has informed some of our decision-making,” he said.
Donyell Malen celebrates scoring for Aston Villa against Maccabi Tel Aviv
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“So it is exclusively a decision we made on the basis of the behaviour of a sub-section of Maccabi fans, but all the reaction that could occur obviously formed part of that as well.”
Villa ended up winning the match 2-0.
Defender Ian Maatsen broke the deadlock, with the former Chelsea star scoring in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Donyell Malen, who has enjoyed a positive campaign after struggling last term, doubled their advantage in the 59th minute from the penalty spot.
