Viewpoint: the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban

Former Special Branch officer Chris Hobbs explores in detail the complex policing considerations behind the decision to stage an upcoming football match in Birmingham without supporters from the Israeli team.

Following the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their match with Aston Villa the Israeli club has made it clear that they would not accept tickets for their fans to attend the match even if offered.

There could, of course, be further twists and turns to this saga given the level of support there appears to be across the UK’s political spectrum for fans to attend, including from Prime Minister Starmer.

This news comes in the wake of disorder before a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv last Sunday.

Israeli police described the incident as ‘public disorder and violent riots’ and went on to say: “Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown” adding that; ‘”this is not a football game, this is disorder and serious violence”. Three police officers were amongst the fifteen people injured and, in a scenario familiar to officers in the UK, the Israeli police were blamed for the violence.

Whilst some have, with apparent justification, placed the blame on Hapoel fans for the smoke grenades and flares, footage has emerged which purports to show Maccabi fans chasing down their rivals after the game was cancelled.

An identical fixture between the two sides back in September 2023, at the same stadium which they share, saw fighting broke out between rival fans amidst chaotic scenes which resulted in 120 arrests.

In January of this year, a match between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv was abandoned because of pyrotechnics being fired on to the pitch and fighting in the stands.

Fallout

It’s probably unlikely that West Midlands Police will have anticipated the fallout which followed their decision to support the view of the local SAG (Safety Advisory Group) that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be banned from attending their sides match with Aston Villa.

Those who criticised that decision included the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition and the force’s own Police and Crime Commissioner with pledges emerging from all sides that steps would be taken in order to ensure that the decision would be overturned.

There seems to be a presumption amongst police critics that this decision was taken lightly accompanied by less than subtle implications that antisemitic attitudes are at play here.

Events in Amsterdam back in November 2024 clearly influenced the views of both SAG members and West Midlands police and would have been based largely upon intelligence gathered from the Dutch police.

The fixture between Dutch club Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, didn’t initially cause alarm bells to be loudly rung because Ajax have strong Jewish links with a reportedly good relationship existing between the Maccabi ultras and those of Ajax. There would have been an awareness amongst the Dutch authorities that there were and are strong pro-Palestinian sentiments in the City together with a substantial but apparently well integrated Muslim immigrant population.

Police cooperation

In the aftermath of last year’s disorder, the Dutch police would have provided information to West Midlands Police that the arrival of Maccabi supporters in Amsterdam, the day before the game saw what could most charitably be described as poor behaviour. Footage shows them running through the streets while violent anti-Arab racist chants were prevalent and captured on social media posts including when they were entering a station on their way to the ground.

News reports stated; “The evening before the match, on November 6, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were filmed removing Palestinian flags from buildings, shouting racist anti-Arab chants, assaulting individuals, and damaging property. Videos circulated showing Maccabi fans setting off flares and chanting racist slogans.”

Interestingly footage of violence the night before the game has emerged on social media and, as is so often the case, has been manipulated. Hundreds of youths filmed running amok was and is portrayed as ‘Arabs’ despite protests from the lady who actually was responsible for that footage and stated that these were unquestionably Maccabi ultras. The same incident was also captured by a teenage youth who was in no doubt as to what he was filming.

Post match carnage

After the game however the ‘hunters effectively became the hunted’ as the Ajax ultras together with groups of youths, described as of Arab heritage, chased and attacked Maccabi fans across the city, in what could only be described as serious, widespread disorder. This disorder inevitably put law-abiding Maccabi fans and local Jewish citizens at risk as well as the hooligan element.

In all 800 Dutch police officers were deployed at the height of the violence with 62 arrests being made while, in Israel, there  were reports of two ‘rescue’ planes being sent in order to evacuate Maccabi supporters.

Incidents and intelligence in relation to the disorder would have been passed to West Midlands Police and the UK’s Football Policing Unit within days of the 2025/2026 Europa league fixtures being announced by UEFA. In addition, officers would have looked closely at the club and its controversial fan base.

Background

The club, founded in 1906, has clearly endured many turbulent times over the decades. More recently it has acquired a reputation for racist behaviour amongst a section of its support base even to the extent of abusing its own players; the last recorded incident however, was eleven years ago when Maharan Radi, described as a Palestinian midfielder, was abused and reportedly assaulted by his own fans during a game against Hapoel Kiryat Shalom. Six years earlier a Jewish player of Ethiopian descent, Baruch Dego, was also subjected to abuse which included monkey noises. It should be noted that this behaviour did not win the approval of all Maccabi fans who made their feelings known. Baruch in fact was capped for Israel and had a long and distinguished career.

More recent controversy occurred during 2020 and 2021 when during demonstrations against Benjamin Netanyahu, Maccabi ultras reportedly attacked protestors with batons and broken bottles.

Very recent footage of Maccabi’s Ultras singing ‘the rape song’ which includes the phrases “You’re the Arabs’ whores. We are ashamed of you:  We will f— you:  We will f— you, and then we will drink your blood” is less than endearing although apparently is primarily directed against a rival Israeli club.

Footage also exists of a group of Maccabi’s supporters carrying out a quite brutal attack in Athens on a lone male carrying a Palestine flag. This was before a Europa League game.

Banning precedents

Certainly, there are plenty of recent precedents in European football in terms of away fans being banned from attending away matches.

Safety concerns saw Lazio fans banned from Ajax’s ground last year following a decision by the mayor and the police chief while Glasgow Ranger’s fans received a one away match ban at PSV Eindhoven for ‘sectarian chanting.’

Eintracht Frankfurt fans have been banned from attending their match in Naples against Napoli next month due to fears of violence while a year ago Barcelona supporters were banned from attending their team’s match against Red Star Belgrade due to the ‘racist behaviour’ of their supporters during an earlier match in Monaco.

The visit to Villa of Legia Warsaw

Interestingly, a more severe punishment of a five away match ban was imposed upon Legia Warsaw following serious disorder by their fans when their side visited Aston Villa two years ago.  The reluctance of the West Midlands force to risk another similar or even more serious two days of disorder is understandable. The level of violence police faced was extreme despite officers from other forces being drafted in. One officer, from West Mercia was, ‘set on fire’ after being hit by a flare. Happily, he wasn’t seriously hurt. Forty-six arrests were made on the night and much to the chagrin of front- line officers, only a handful appeared in court following decisions made by the CPS.

However, the behaviour of the Maccabi fans and the response of the Villa’s Holte End hard core faithful are not the only factors that West Midlands police will have to consider should the game eventually go ahead with Maccabi fans in attendance. Certainly, at this stage, any collective views by those in the Holte End in relation to the situation in the Middle East are unknown. Officers, of course will be aware that Tommy Robinson has a significant following amongst many football fans across the country that transcends club rivalries. At present he is visiting Israel and is due in court again on November the 4th, two days before the Villa versus Maccabi encounter.

Even if there is no current animosity between the two sets of fans, intelligence officers will be only too well aware that the close relations between the ultras of Maccabi and Ajax quickly fell apart in Amsterdam.

More troubling factors to be considered

Another potential issue, that will have to be factored in to any police threat/risk assessment is the very likelihood of an organised pro-Palestine/anti racist protest against Maccabi who are regarded as a Zionist entity. Even if no Maccabi fans are present, protests could still take place. Such protests could, in turn, prompt a counter-protest organised by pro-Israeli groups such as ‘Stop The Hate’  and the Campaign against Antisemitism. This potentially chaotic scenario could also attract activists from the far-right whose sympathies lie with Israel although this would be less likely if no Maccabi fans were present.

Added to the above are comments from a Birmingham based Muslim preacher making threats towards Maccabi fans which would presumably involve Muslim youths and young men who were seen on the streets of Birmingham and other cities during last year’s riots. They have, however, unlike the disorder in 2021, largely been absent from Palestine linked protests. Ominously, over the weekend, they did appear in Southampton walking alongside and exchanging insults with anti-migrant protesters. If, however, there are no Maccabi fans present in the city, that scenario is less likely.

A final consideration will be whether the notorious Birmingham City ‘ultras’ group known as the Zulus will be drawn to the area around Villa Park like moths to a flame. The Zulus have been in existence since their formation in 1982 and were recently shown on social media singing ‘we want our country back’ at Stoke City’s ground.

Even if no Maccabi fans are present, the level of publicity could well result in some of the above- mentioned groups materialising in order to protest or counter protest.

If the ban is lifted and Maccabi officials decide, after all, to accept tickets, the potential for disorder could be reduced slightly with the cooperation of the Israeli and Dutch police. The Israelis could be asked to provide a list of known Maccabi Ultras who have convictions for violence whether football related or not while the Dutch police could supply details of Maccabi fans arrested during the Amsterdam disorder.

In addition, Israeli officers could be invited to assist West Midlands police as is now usual when European matches are played.

Details of errant fans would then be placed on the National Border Targeting Centre watchlists which would ‘flag’ individuals as they travelled in to the UK. Those individuals would then be refused entry.

The other possible consideration would be a ‘cradle to grave’ scenario for the Maccabi fans. In order to ‘land’ in the UK they would have to travel by charter flights into Birmingham or East Midlands airport. They would be bussed under escort to the ground and placed in the section reserved for away fans well in advance of kick-off.

After the match is finished and as per UEFA rules, they would be kept in the ground until the home fans had dispersed. They would then be bussed, under escort,’ to the relevant airport for their return flights.

If that sounds simple enough, it isn’t. There would be numerous logistical issues to be overcome including issues around night flights and even if these arrangements were feasible, there would still need to be a massive policing operation surrounding the match and the route to and from the airport. It could also be argued that such arrangements would negate some of the positive aspects of travelling abroad.

A potential policing nightmare

There still remains a potential nightmare scenario for West Midlands police should, somehow, the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans be reversed and Maccabi officials decide to accept tickets for their fans after receiving safety assurances. The force’s public order team and football unit would then have to factor in the following when planning their policing operation; the law- abiding Maccabi supporters; the significant numbers of Maccabi’s hooligan element; Aston Villa fans notably the above-mentioned hard core of Holte Enders; pro-Palestinian/anti-racist protesters; pro-Israeli/antisemitism counter-protesters; far right activists; Birmingham City FC Zulus; Muslim youths and young men who respond to the call from the local cleric plus the army of citizen journalists/auditors.

In addition, given the propensity of the Maccabi hooligan element to indulge in racist chanting, how police would react should that scenario materialise in both the ground and on the streets is another challenge for the planners.

However, as this scenario finally evolves, as is the way of policing, the actions of the West Midlands police in trying to keep the peace will continue to be criticised from across the political spectrum which in turn will raise questions as to whether difficult policing decisions should be free from political interference.

Category: football policingOps