How Amsterdam trouble triggered Maccabi Tel Aviv ban in Birmingham

An eight page report by West Midlands Police explains why they pressed for an away fans ban for the game between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv

Fears of 'running street battles' between Israeli football supporters and pro Palestine protest groups in the heart of Birmingham was a major reason for banning away fans from the controversial Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match, a police report has revealed.

The prospect of the Israeli club's hardcore fans targeting Muslim communities and inciting confrontations in a repeat of trouble experienced at a Europa League game in Amsterdam triggered the 'high risk' ruling.

Other options were considered but a ban on the club's fans was deemed the best option.

READ MORE: The truth about violence threat that led to Israeli club fan ban at Villa game

Today, we reveal the full details of the police's thinking that resulted in the ban, which was condemned by politicians including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

In their report presented to Birmingham Safety Advisory Group they highlighted the factors they had considered, based on intelligence and information from multiple sources.

But the most telling was the insight provided by Dutch police.

They said of the Amsterdam match in November 2024: "Significant numbers of Maccabi fans were actively involved in demonstrations and confrontations."

The day before (the match) around 500-600 Maccabi fans 'intentionally targeted Muslim communities and committed a variety of targeted, hate motivated crimes including serious assaults on Muslim taxi drivers, throwing innocent members of the public into the river, tearing down Palestine flags and singing hate fuelled songs'.

Police attempts to disperse this group resulted in serious violence....the 'risk fans' were 'experienced fighters who were highly organised and co-ordinated', the Dutch police told their West Midlands counterparts.

"They were intent on serious violence and were not afraid of fighting with police. Several officers were injured during the sustained confrontation."

They described more confrontations on matchday as "significant members of Muslim communities mobilised" in retaliation.

"As police escorted around 1,000 of the Maccabi fans through the city there were 'inflammatory actions...including tearing down Palestine flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans', they said.

There were then attacks on Maccabi fans by pro Palestine protestors, with 'running street battles'.

More attacks on Jewish fans were 'being coordinated on social media' as the match was under way - in response police banned all protests around the stadium, while emergency flights were arranged to extract the Israeli club's fans from the Netherlands, said the report.

Independent news reports after the match described how Maccabi fans had been ambushed and assaulted across the city centre in what was described by some as a 'pogrom' - a term describing an attempt to massacre particular ethnic groups. A group of Maccabi fans were also recorded assaulting people and vandalising local property.

Seven people, including five Israelis, were sent to hospital and an estimated 30 people sustained light injuries.

READ MORE: Flare-ups and arrests at Villa-Maccabi protests as police 'keep peace' in massive operation

"The Dutch Police have confirmed that these incidents did take place, with Maccabi fans 'inciting serious violence on the day before the fixture....highly organised, skilled fighters with a serious desire and will to fight with police and opposing groups."

The police had to deploy 5,000 officers over three days, resulting in mass arrests from both sides, they noted.

The Dutch warned West Midlands Police that Maccabi's hardcore fans would be 'loud and very visible' and would 'not comply with police direction and will be highly organised'.

The Villa game had the potential for serious and sustained violence from risk elements of Maccabi fans, leaving local communities 'extremely concerned and in fear', along with the potential for significant protests and "disruption to city centre and wider Birmingham".

The police ruled out alternatives including playing the game behind closed doors as potentially more impartial 'but not fair to Aston Villa fans who have no recent history of disorder'. It would also cause likely tensions with Villa and UEFA and 'may not be legally sound'.

Having no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was seen to be the 'least risky' option. "This would significantly reduce the tension between local communities and will take away a significant focus of serious disorder."

The officers acknowledged "this may be seen as antisemitic or anti-Israel" both locally and nationally and would thus need to be 'carefully managed to ensure the rationale for any decision is clearly understood'.

But they also said restricting away fans was a 'tried and tested tactic', with precedents at recent European games.

These included a ban on Lazio fans from the match against Ajax last year for fear of far right racism and antisemitism; a one match ban on Glasgow Rangers fans at a European game for 'sectarian chanting'; and a recent ban on Eintracht Frankfurt fans attending versus Naples 'due to fears of violence'.

A year ago Barcelona supporters were banned from attending the match against Red Star Belgrade due to the 'racist behaviour of their supporters' during an earlier match in Monaco, stated the report.

First produced in early October, the report then included further updates about the events that had unfolded since.

A major police operation was still required in the city on the night of the Villa game against Maccabi Tel Aviv last Thursday, November 6. Some 700 police were deployed to keep the peace, with 11 arrests made on the night.

There were flare ups and confrontations but no significant outbreaks of violence or damage.

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