Ed Miliband says Villa Park cannot be a "no-go" area for Jewish supporters
It's after fans of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from attending next month's Europa League match with Aston Villa
Last updated 19th Oct 2025
Cabinet minister Ed Miliband says everyone should to be allowed to watch their team, regardless of their religion.
It's after fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from attending a match at Aston Villa over "safety concerns."
The Energy Secretary was the latest senior Government figure to insist that the ban on fans of Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa next month must be overturned.
Pressure has been mounting on local authorities in Birmingham after they announced the Israeli team's fans would be barred from attending the November 6 game amid safety concerns.
In a statement on Thursday, Villa said the Safety Advisory Group had "formally written to the club and Uefa to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend" the fixture.
The statement added: "West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night."
West Midlands Police classified the fixture as high risk based on "current intelligence and previous incidents".
The force pointed to violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
Read the police statement here.
Asked on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips if Villa Park was now a no-go area for Jews as a result of the decision, Mr Miliband said: "No, and it can't be, and I'm very, very clear about that."
Mr Miliband, who is from a Jewish family, said: "We cannot have a situation where any area is a no-go area for people of a particular religion or from a particular country, and we've got to stamp out all forms of prejudice, antisemitism, Islamophobia, wherever we find them."
The minister was also asked by Sky News about a petition, supported by independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr Ayoub Khan, which called for the match to be halted and for a boycott of Israeli teams playing in the UK.
Mr Miliband said he "profoundly" disagreed with Mr Khan's approach.
The "vast majority of Muslim people in this country would disassociate themselves" from suggestions that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans could not come to Aston Villa because it was a predominantly Muslim area, the minister said.
But Mr Miliband stressed that "integration is not something you can ever take for granted", when asked about concerns that a lack of integration had contributed to the situation.
The Government is expecting West Midlands Police to set out early next week what they would need to police the game safely with both sets of fans present.
Birmingham's safety advisory group (SAG), which brings together the council and police force, is expected to raise the issue at a meeting early next week.
While ministers have been pressing hard for the ban to be overturned, Birmingham City Council said on Friday it would not be reviewed unless there was a change in the risk assessment provided by the police.
There has been widespread criticism from across the political spectrum of the decision to implement the ban.
The move was condemned by Jewish political leaders, and a "shameful decision" by Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar.
Read more about the reaction to this move here.
Sir Keir said on X: "This is the wrong decision.
"We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.
"The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation."
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho is the latest senior Tory to describe the move as a "disgrace".
It comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded it a "national disgrace".
Ms Coutinho told Sky News that police regularly covered other high-risk events.
"What you've seen is policing in this country has been able to protect people at the Notting Hill Carnival, where people are routinely injured, it's protected people through the Palestinian marches," she said.
"Like I said, if you look at the context, I think it's really important that they do this."
Sir Keir Starmer was "angered" by the decision, No 10 said last week, adding that the Prime Minister was "entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this".
But senior officers at the UK Football Policing Unit have backed the move, saying it was "important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions".
The unit said the Home Office was briefed "last week" that "restrictions on visiting fans" could be among the measures taken to police the fixture at Villa Park.
It is understood the Home Office was briefed that a ban was being considered, but no decision had been taken and the Home Secretary was not informed of the final decision until it was made public on Thursday night.
The police and crime commissioner in the West Midlands has urged an "immediate review".
Simon Foster said the purpose of his request for a review into the decision, made by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group, to bar away fans from attending Villa Park on November 6 amid safety concerns was for the authorities to determine whether it is appropriate and necessary.
In a statement, Mr Foster said he has also requested to see the written decision of the SAG, the event operational plan for the match, the assessment carried out by West Midlands Police and other relevant documents.
He said: "The safety and security of all the people and communities of the West Midlands, including visitors to the West Midlands, is my top priority. That is absolute, unconditional and non-negotiable.
"I have today requested Birmingham City Council Safety Advisory Group and West Midlands Police convene a special SAG at the earliest possible opportunity and conduct an immediate review of the decision to prohibit the attendance of away fans at the football match between Aston Villa FC v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC on Thursday November 6.
"The purpose of my request for a review is to enable the SAG and WMP to determine whether or not this decision and recommendation is appropriate, necessary, justified, reasonable and a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
"That must include consideration of all and any suitable alternative options."