Amsterdam Clashes Spark Birmingham Safety Fears
A police report has revealed that fears of 'running street battles' between Israeli football supporters and pro-Palestinian protest groups in central Birmingham were a major factor in the decision to ban away fans from the controversial Aston Villa versus Maccabi Tel Aviv match. The 'high risk' ruling was triggered by intelligence suggesting a repeat of the serious disorder experienced at a Europa League fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024.
The Dutch Police Report: A Blueprint for Disorder
In an eight-page report presented to the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group, West Midlands Police detailed the intelligence that led to their recommendation. The most significant insights came from Dutch police counterparts, who described how around 500-600 Maccabi fans intentionally targeted Muslim communities in Amsterdam the day before their match.
The Dutch report stated these fans committed hate-motivated crimes, including serious assaults on Muslim taxi drivers, throwing members of the public into a river, tearing down Palestine flags, and singing hate-fuelled songs. When police attempted to disperse the group, it resulted in serious violence.
Dutch authorities described the 'risk fans' as 'experienced fighters who were highly organised and co-ordinated', intent on serious violence and unafraid of confronting police. Several officers were injured during the sustained confrontation.
Matchday Escalation and Retaliatory Attacks
The situation escalated on matchday. As police escorted approximately 1,000 Maccabi fans through Amsterdam, there were further inflammatory actions, including tearing down Palestine flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans. This led to retaliatory attacks on the Israeli fans by pro-Palestinian protesters, resulting in what was described as 'running street battles'.
The violence was so severe that emergency flights were arranged to extract Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Netherlands. Independent news reports described the events as a 'pogrom', with Maccabi fans being ambushed and assaulted across the city centre. In total, seven people, including five Israelis, were hospitalised, with an estimated 30 others sustaining light injuries.
The Dutch police had to deploy 5,000 officers over three days, resulting in mass arrests from both sides. They warned West Midlands Police that Maccabi's hardcore fans would be 'loud and very visible' and would not comply with police direction.
The Birmingham Decision and Political Fallout
Faced with this intelligence, West Midlands Police assessed that the Aston Villa game had the potential for serious and sustained violence from risk elements of Maccabi fans. Local communities were described as 'extremely concerned and in fear'.
The police considered alternatives, including playing the game behind closed doors, but ruled this out as it was deemed unfair to Aston Villa fans, who have no recent history of disorder. A ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was seen as the 'least risky' option, significantly reducing tension between local communities.
The officers acknowledged this decision 'may be seen as antisemitic or anti-Israel' and would need careful management to ensure the rationale was clearly understood. The ban was condemned by politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The police report cited precedents for such bans, including restrictions on Lazio fans at an Ajax match over far-right racism fears, and a ban on Barcelona supporters at a Red Star Belgrade game due to racist behaviour.
A major police operation was still required in Birmingham on the night of the match, Thursday, November 6, with 700 officers deployed and 11 arrests made. While there were flare-ups and confrontations, no significant outbreaks of violence or damage occurred.
