"This is clear racism and collective punishment"
Birmingham MP Ayoub Khan is facing racism accusations after publicly welcoming the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the upcoming match against Aston Villa.
The teams will play at Villa Park in the Europa League on November 6, 2025.
However, fans of the Israeli side will not be permitted to attend the match after a decision was made by a joint safety committee and was based partly on what happened in Amsterdam in 2024, when Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending a game against Ajax were caught up in attacks in the city.
Ayoub Khan welcomed the move, tweeting that fans would “not be permitted to watch the match at Aston Villa!”
The independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr added:
“Well done to all those that signed our petition!”
Ayoub Khan explained there had been “so much hostility and uncertainty around the match” that it was “only right to take drastic measures,” and referenced “latent safety risks” that law enforcement “would not be able to fully manage”.
This prompted a wave of backlash, with many people on social media accusing him of racism.
Investigative journalist David Collier tweeted: “This is clear racism and collective punishment from a sitting MP.
“Celebrating the fact football fans cannot travel because he does not like their ethnicity. That there are more like him coming over the hill tells you exactly where the UK is heading.”
A comment read: “You’re the one who created tensions by making veiled threats of violence. Deplorable dishonesty.”
One person wrote: “What a disgraceful and repulsive post. You are not merely endorsing antisemitism, you are seeking to gain political advantage from endorsing it.”
Another said: “Shame on you. This is nasty xenophobia. Shame on those who voted you in.”
One person urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to stick to her word of announcing funding to protect Jewish communities.
I welcome the news that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will not be permitted to watch the match at Aston Villa! Well done to all those that signed our petition! pic.twitter.com/cRDtdDc7ad
— Ayoub Khan MP (@AyoubKhanMP) October 16, 2025
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the decision:
“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.”
Aston Villa confirmed the decision followed safety concerns raised by officers.
The club said the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), a multi-agency forum coordinated by the local authority, had advised that no fans of the Israeli side would be allowed to attend the fixture.
Aston Villa said in a statement: “Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG has formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.
“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.
“The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”
West Midlands Police classified the game as “high risk” following a “thorough assessment.”
A spokesperson said:
“West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.”
“This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
“Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.
“We remain steadfast in our support of all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms.”
Birmingham City Council said a “multi-agency meeting” and a “thorough review” led to a “collective decision [to] restrict away fan attendance”.
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