Maccabi Tel Aviv to decline tickets for European match at Aston Villa

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Israeli midfielder #09 Dor David Turgeman (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League, League Phase - Matchday 3, football match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC and Real Sociedad at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade on October 24, 2024. (Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Israeli midfielder #09 Dor David Turgeman (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League, League Phase - Matchday 3, football match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC and Real Sociedad at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade on October 24, 2024. (Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Maccabi Tel Aviv will decline any tickets offered to their fans for a Europa League match at away to Aston Villa, the soccer club announces.

The local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) covering Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, last week blocked visiting fans from attending the November 6 match following a police risk assessment. That decision drew political criticism, including from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with widespread calls for the ruling to be reversed. The British government said Friday it was working to allow Israeli fans to be present.

But a statement on the Maccabi Tel Aviv website says: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and, from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans, and our decision should be understood in that context.

“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”

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