ASTON VILLA will host Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Uefa Europa League WITHOUT any away fans due to safety concerns.
The Villans welcome the Israeli outfit to the West Midlands on November 6 for their fourth league phase match.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will be followed by any of their supporters to the match after instructions from the Safety Advisory Group.
The group is responsible for providing safety certificates for matches, and one has not been granted for the fixture.
It is stated that this is due to concerns about potential protests outside of Villa Park.
West Midlands Police are concerned about their ability to deal with any unrest that may occur.
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Villa confirmed the decision that away fans would be banned for the match.
A club statement read: “Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the Uefa Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.
“The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.
“Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.
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“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.”
It follows the heavy police presence that was observed at Israel‘s World Cup qualifier against Italy.
Snipers were spotted on the roof of Stadio Friuli in Udine in north-east Italy.
The Israel team bus had to be escorted to the stadium with maximum security and military presence.
Before the match, thousands of pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets against Israel’s involvement in the match due to the war in Gaza.
They were demanding that Israel be excluded from international football competitions.
Many believe that the nation should face the same punishment as Russia who Fifa banned after its illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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The Azzurri won 3-0 after two goals from Mateo Retegui and another from Gianluca Mancini.
The result means that Israel can not qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the US next summer.
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