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The decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from a European football match at Aston Villa was reached through a flawed assessment process, according to a new report led by a Durham University research student.
Adam Dickson, a doctoral research student, presented the findings at an event in the UK's House of Lords.
The report was commissioned and published by the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism. Adam's contribution was not part of his PhD studies.
The report followed the decision by West Midlands Police, Aston Villa Football Club and Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to ban supporters of the Israeli club from the Europa League fixture at Villa Park in November 2025.
It was formally launched by Lord John Mann, the UK Government's Independent Adviser on Antisemitism, who also wrote a foreword on the report.
Departure from UK policing practice
The report drew on evidence, parliamentary material and policing guidance.
It said the decision making behind the ban departed from established UK policing practice.
The report also raised concerns about the failure to clearly identify the source of the perceived risk.
If the primary risk came from the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters themselves, then the report said exclusion may have been justified.
But, the report added, if the main risk was from anti-Israel protestors, boycott activists, or anti-Zionists seeking to disrupt or attack the match, then banning away supporters risked punishing those who were being threatened, who did not themselves constitute a threat.
The report concluded that whilst there may have been legitimate public order concerns, the evidence available did not demonstrate that a blanket ban was needed to prevent serious disorder, or that more routine, less restrictive measures were insufficient.
Strengthening future practice
The report was co-authored by David Hirsh, Academic Director and CEO of the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.
It makes a series of recommendations to ensure public safety is evidence-led, proportionate, and consistent with the principles of equality and public confidence.
These include clarifying the evidence needed for a blanket ban, embedding earlier, and more balanced, local community engagement in decision making, and considering antisemitism as an equality consideration.
The recommendations also include establishing clearer escalation and oversight for politically sensitive fixtures.
