Starmer criticizes the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Aston Villa match and describes it as "wrong"

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer entered the ongoing controversy in Britain following Aston Villa's decision, in coordination with West Midlands Police, to ban fans of the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the match between the two teams in the Europa League scheduled for November 6 in Birmingham.

Starmer described the decision on the "X" platform as "wrong," emphasizing that Britain will not tolerate anti-Semitism, and that the role of the police should be limited to ensuring the safety of all fans and enabling them to enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation.

The decision came after security warnings about the possibility of widespread protests outside the stadium, especially in light of ongoing anti-war demonstrations in Gaza, in addition to a previous record of Maccabi fans who were involved in violent incidents in Amsterdam last year.

For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described Aston Villa's decision as "shameful," considering it discriminatory against the fans of the Israeli team.

Meanwhile, the management of the English club confirmed that the decision was made based on security recommendations from the police and the local safety advisory group, which classified the match as high-risk.

The issue has sparked a wide political debate in Britain, as supporters of the decision believe it aims to prevent any potential clashes between fans and protesters, while opponents argue that the collective ban on an entire team's fans represents a dangerous precedent and gives the impression of discrimination.

This controversy puts Starmer's government in a sensitive position, especially with rising internal tensions over issues of anti-Semitism and protests against Israel, making the upcoming match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv a sporting event with political and security dimensions that go beyond the boundaries of football.