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Senior government figures are meeting today to “see if there’s a way through” a ban on Israeli fans attending a football match in Birmingham.
There has been political outcry after the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) said it would not allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend the team’s away game against Aston Villa next month.
Politics latest: MPs condemn decision to ban Israeli fans from Birmingham match
The announcement, supported by West Midlands Police, was based partly on the violent clashes that occurred around the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it “the wrong decision”, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said it was a “national disgrace”.
Speaking to Sky News on Friday morning, science and technology minister Ian Murray revealed Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, is meeting with the Home Office in a bid to reverse the decision.
“It’s just completely and utterly unacceptable, and the prime minister has said we will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue,” Mr Murray said.
“It’s an operational issue for the police, and government doesn’t get involved in operational issues for the police,” he said.
“But I know the Culture Secretary of State (Ms Nandy) will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there’s a way through this.”
West Midlands Police said it had classified the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture as high risk based on “current intelligence and previous incidents”.
The force said this included violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, when more than 60 people were arrested.
Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, has…
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