Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain criticized a local police move to prohibit fans of an Israeli soccer club from attending a match next month against a top-tier British team on security grounds, calling it the “wrong decision.”The local authorities had categorized the game between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, slated for Nov. 6 at Aston Villa’s stadium in Birmingham, as high-risk, before deciding to bar Maccabi supporters. Though fans have been barred from European soccer matches before, including at least twice this season, the involvement of an Israeli team coupled with a roiling debate around free speech in Britain and fears of antisemitism there escalated the criticisms of the ban. “This is the wrong decision,” Mr. Starmer said on Thursday on social media. “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.”

Source: The Times October 18, 2025 10:51 UTC