Obviously not the end of this matter just yet;
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Letter to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner relating to the upcoming Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League fixture...
Dear Commissioner and Chief Constable
I am writing on behalf of the Home Affairs Select Committee to request more information regarding the decision-making around the forthcoming UEFA Europa League fixture between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Though Maccabi Tel Aviv have now declined tickets for the fixture, there is a public interest case for greater clarity about the process that led to the initial decision not to allow away fans, which we would be grateful for your assistance in providing.
It has been set out how the initial decision by Birmingham City Council not to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was based on a risk assessment provided by West Midlands Police to the safety advisory group. We would therefore be grateful if you could set out:
1. What assessment West Midlands Police made of disorder in Amsterdam in November 2024, following a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv?
2. What options for policing the fixture did West Midlands Police consider as part of its risk assessment? For example, was a ‘bubble’ considered for away fans?
3. Did West Midlands Police assess that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were likely to be the victims of antisemitism? If so, was this seen as the most significant risk?
4. Did West Midlands Police assess that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were likely to present a danger to the local population?
5. To what extent did resource constraints mean that West Midlands Police felt they were unable to police the fixture effectively? How often and in what circumstances would a request to other forces or the Government for mutual aid or additional resources be considered?
In addition, and in line with the Home Affairs Select Committee’s powers under the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, we would like to request a copy of the full risk assessment conducted by West Midlands Police in relation to this fixture.
As well as questions around the initial decision-making for the fixture, we would be grateful for your answers to some questions about the wider political environment and the impact on West Midlands Police:
1. Did campaigning about the fixture, including a petition to cancel the fixture promoted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, affect your assessment of the risk posed by the fixture? In particular, was your assessment that Maccabi TelAviv fans were put at greater risk by public campaigns against their attendance?
2. Was any evidence submitted to you by campaigning organisations material to your risk assessment for the fixture?
3. Following the offer of Government support to resource the fixture, were you able to consider additional options to police the fixture? What options were considered at this point?
Finally, given the questions this incident has raised, will you be conducting any review of West Midlands Police’s footballing operation, to ensure that potential future high-risk fixtures can be policed safely?
We are grateful in advance for your assistance in this important matter and would appreciate a response by Wednesday 19 November. Our intention would be to publish the material you provide in response.
Yours sincerely ...
Chair of the Home Affairs Committee
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/83/home-affairs-committee/publications/3/correspondence/