Intelligence on ‘extreme’ Maccabi fans with history of violence led to Villa Park ban

Exclusive: West Midlands police were told supporters randomly attacked Muslims in Amsterdam last year

Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were banned from watching their game against Aston Villa after police intelligence concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club.

The ban ignited an intense controversy and was criticised by the prime minister, as well as others claiming it was a surrender to antisemitism.

Scores of extreme Maccabi fans with a past history of violence and shouting racist taunts" were expected to travel to the Birmingham game.

Dutch police told their British counterparts that the Maccabi fans had instigated trouble in Amsterdam at a game last year.

They had randomly picked Muslims in Amsterdam to attack. That led to reprisal violence with some Dutch Jews attacked.

A huge Dutch police effort, involving 5,000 officers across three days, was needed to quell the trouble.

A community impact assessment by West Midlands police recorded that some Jewish people wanted the Maccabi fans banned because of the trouble that might ensue if they attended.

Any trouble started by Maccabi fans attending the Birmingham game could lead to reprisals from local people and further trouble.

The process did not consider whether the ban on fans of the Israeli club could be criticised as antisemitic itself or surrendering to antisemitism.