Aston Villa has reportedly informed its matchday stewards that they may not be required to work during the upcoming Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The decision, communicated to the stewards, cites potential safety "concerns". The match is scheduled to take place at Villa Park on November 6th.
The club's security department initially sent an email on October 3rd, offering stewards the option to request leave for the European match. This request would not affect their contractual obligation to work a minimum of 80% of the season's games.
The decision to potentially reduce steward numbers precedes the official ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the match, which was advised by the West Midlands Police and Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The police cited an inability to safely police the fixture due to potential public safety concerns outside the stadium and possible protests. This advice led UEFA to implement a ban on away fans for the game.
The West Midlands Police classified the match as "high risk" following incidents of violence between Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and city residents in Amsterdam during a previous Europa League game against Ajax in November 2024, which resulted in over 60 arrests. There were also pro-Palestinian protests that took place at a game in Greece when Maccabi played PAOK on Sept. 24. About 120 fans of the Israeli club traveled to Greece for that game and were held behind a police cordon before entering the venue.
The decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans has sparked controversy. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, criticized the decision as "shameful". The London-based Jewish Leadership Council also released a statement calling the decision unfair and suggesting that Aston Villa should face consequences, such as playing the match behind closed doors.
The British government is reportedly working to reverse the ban and is considering providing additional resources to security forces. The SAG is expected to reconvene next week to re-examine the situation, pending an updated risk assessment from the police.
Villa Park has a seating capacity of 42,657. Aston Villa's average attendance in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season was 41,700. A typical match requires an estimated 700 to 800 stewards.
