Tel Aviv turmoil raises alarm before Aston Villa clash

Calls to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv from international fixtures have intensified after violent scenes erupted at the Israeli Premier League derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday, forcing authorities to cancel the match before kick-off.

Israeli police described the situation as “public disorder and violent riots”, with dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnics hurled inside and around the stadium. Fifteen people, including three police officers, were injured. The unrest led to multiple arrests and detentions.

Critics argue that the incident underscores a pattern of aggression surrounding Maccabi Tel Aviv and its supporters — one that extends beyond domestic football. The disturbance comes only days after British authorities advised that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to attend the upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham due to safety concerns.

Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned both the escalation and the police handling of the event, accusing security forces of “treating a football match like a battlefield” and warning that Israeli football has become hostage to heavy-handed policing and the provocative behaviour of certain clubs.

Meanwhile, community leaders in Europe have expressed alarm that allowing Maccabi Tel Aviv to travel abroad amid heightened regional tensions could risk further unrest. The Birmingham Safety Advisory Group (SAG) earlier decided to prohibit the club’s fans from attending the match on 6 November — a move supported by West Midlands Police, which classified the fixture as “high risk” given intelligence about prior violent incidents involving Maccabi supporters.

That assessment followed serious clashes in Amsterdam in late 2024 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax fans, which led to over 60 arrests and reports of hate-crime offences. Similar protests have taken place at recent international games involving Israeli teams, as public sentiment hardens over the continuing war in Gaza.

While the UK government has hinted at reconsidering the fan ban, many argue that safety and public harmony must come first. For those opposed to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s participation, the events in Tel Aviv this weekend serve as a stark reminder: sport cannot be separated from the consequences of violence and provocation.