Government 'doing everything' to overturn Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
Government 'doing everything' to overturn Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
The government has said it is "doing everything in our power" to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a football match in Birmingham and is exploring what additional resources could be required.
On Thursday, Aston Villa said the city's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) decided that fans of the Israeli club should not be permitted to attend the Europa League fixture on 6 November over safety concerns.
Facing mounting pressure to resolve the situation, the government said it was working with police and exploring what additional resources are required.
A meeting of the SAG to discuss the match is expected next week, the Home Office said.
"No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are," a government spokesperson said.
They added the government was working with police and other bodies to ensure the game could "safely go ahead with all fans present".
After it was announced on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer called the move to block fans attending "wrong", adding "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets". There has also been criticism from other party leaders.
The SAG, which advises the council on whether to issue safety certificates, will review the decision if West Midlands Police changes its risk assessment for the match, Birmingham City Council said.
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