Villa Informs Stewards of Potential Absences for Maccabi Tel Aviv Match

Overview

Aston Villa has notified its matchday stewards that they are not required to work during the upcoming Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv scheduled for November 6. The club acknowledged that some stewards might have reservations about their safety related to this event.

Ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans

• Stewards were given prior notice that they could choose to opt-out of their duties amid concerns regarding potential safety issues.
• Following this, a decision was made to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the game at Villa Park, drawing significant backlash.
• The local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) determined that access for fans from the Israeli side should be denied due to safety worries.
• Government officials are actively working to lift this ban, assessing what extra measures might be necessary, with discussions about the match anticipated to take place next week.

Steward Participation Concerns

Some stewards have indicated they may skip working the match. Aston Villa has chosen not to comment on these developments.

Government Stance

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has voiced that the prohibition on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is unacceptable. In a Sky News interview, he emphasized that areas should never become inaccessible for individuals of particular faiths or nationalities, advocating against prejudice in any form.

Miliband, who comes from a Jewish heritage, expressed strong disagreement with a petition aimed at either canceling the match or holding it without an audience or in a neutral location. This petition had the backing of Ayoub Khan, an independent MP representing Birmingham Perry Barr.

Communication to Stewards

In a correspondence sent out on October 3 by Villa’s safety management team, stewards were reminded to assess their comfort levels regarding working the match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The email included provisions for submitting a one-time absence request, ensuring that any absence would not impact their contractual obligation of a minimum 80% attendance.

Although it remains unclear how many stewards have invoked this opportunity, it appears that the club’s communication came in response to earlier safety concerns raised by some of its stewards. The option to request an absence will remain available if the ban on away supporters is revoked.

Match Preparations

• Requests for absences must be submitted at least four working days prior to the match date.
• The West Midlands Police has supported the ban, categorizing the fixture as “high risk” based on intelligence reports and incidents from the previous year involving violent clashes related to matches between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
• These disturbances resulted in over 60 arrests.

Official Statements

Following the announcement of the ban, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticized the decision, stating, “We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.” Other leaders have also raised concerns regarding the implications of the ban.

Aston Villa remarked that the action was taken following an instruction from the SAG, which discussed public safety outside the venue and how to manage potential protests on match day. The club assured fans and local residents that their safety was the paramount consideration in every decision made.

Updates regarding the SAG’s future assessments are expected if West Midlands Police revises its risk profile for the match. Villa is actively represented within the SAG alongside local authorities and law enforcement. Last week, the Home Office was informed that restrictions on visiting fans may be applied, yet the final decision regarding the ban was communicated only on Thursday.