UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has further criticised a decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match in Birmingham, but said it was for local authorities to overturn the decision.
The city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), made up of police, council and safety experts, decided last week that on safety grounds away fans would be barred from the Uefa Europa League fixture against Aston Villa, on 6 November.
“It is not for the government to assess the risk surrounding this football match,” Nandy said, but added the resourcing operation should not be the deciding factor.
Her Conservative shadow, Nigel Huddlestone, said the ban was “embarrassing and a disgrace”.
The SAG, which advises the council on whether to issue safety certificates, will review the decision if West Midlands Police changes its risk assessment for the match, Birmingham City Council said.
On Thursday, West Midlands Police said it had classified the fixture as “high risk” based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including “violent clashes and hate crime offences” between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in Amsterdam, in November 2024.
Nandy said: “Following the decision last week, the government has been working with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to support them to consider all the options available, and to tell us what resources are needed to manage the risks, to ensure fans from both teams can attend safely.
“If the assessment is revised, the safety advisory group will meet again to discuss options.”
