Tue Oct 21 02:42:00 UTC 2025: News Article: Maccabi Tel Aviv to Forfeit Away Tickets Amid Fan Violence and Racism Concerns

Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced it will reject any tickets offered to its fans for an upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa in the UK, regardless of whether a ban initially imposed by local officials is lifted. The decision follows a cancelled match in Israel due to fan violence and growing concerns about racism within the club’s supporter base.

Maccabi Tel Aviv cited “hard lessons learned” and the paramount importance of fan safety in a statement released Monday. The club emphasized ongoing efforts to “stamp out racism” within its more extreme elements, highlighting the diverse composition of its team and fan base, encompassing Muslim, Christian, and Jewish individuals.

The decision comes after Israeli police cancelled Sunday’s match between Maccabi and rival Hapoel Tel Aviv due to “public disorder and violent riots”. This contrasted sharply with criticism from UK and Israeli leaders following Birmingham City’s initial ban on Maccabi fans attending the November 6th game.

The UK government initially intervened to override the local ban but some UK politicians have since questioned the intervention after the fan violence in Israel. Independent MP Ayoub Khan cited the violence as evidence against lifting the ban. Labour MP Richard Burgon called the campaign absurd, asserting that the people of Birmingham have a right to be kept safe.

West Midlands Police classified the match as high-risk, citing intelligence and past incidents, including violence and hate crimes during Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 2024 Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam, which saw clashes between pro-Palestinian supporters and Maccabi fans, leading to numerous arrests.

The Amsterdam clashes followed reports of Israeli fans vandalizing symbols of Palestinian solidarity, assaulting residents, and chanting racist slogans against Palestinians. The incident also included reports of antisemitism.

The club’s decision and the ongoing controversy also come against a backdrop of calls for UEFA to ban Israeli teams from international competitions, citing concerns about Israel’s alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. Legal experts have cited a UN report affirming that Israel is carrying out a genocide against Palestinians.

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