The West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom previously decided to ban fans of the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv from entering the country to watch the Europa League match against Villa in November. This move caused an uproar. The Guardian reports that the UK Home Office has stepped in and is providing additional resources to support local police in seeking to lift the ban.
The police's initial reason for the ban was based on security intelligence, and specifically cited the serious riots that occurred during Maccabi Tel Aviv's away game against Ajax in 2024.
However, this ban was strongly opposed by British politics. Starmer called it a "wrong decision" and stressed the police had a responsibility to keep all fans safe. Amid intense political pressure, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has formally called for an "immediate review" of the decision.