A confidential police assessment prepared for Aston Villa's Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv has revealed that the club's historic hooligan following has been largely neutralised, posing a minimal threat.
Inside the Police Intelligence
The internal report, produced by West Midlands Police for the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group last month, was instrumental in the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv's away fans. While focusing on that controversial move, the document also provided a detailed risk assessment of Villa's own supporters, which was overwhelmingly positive.
It stated there had been 'very few arrests' all season at both Premier League and European matches, whether at home or away. For European fixtures specifically, fans had not encountered 'any significant issues'.
However, the report did identify two main risk groups from the club's past: Villa Hardcore and Villa Youth. Police intelligence indicated that these groups could potentially muster up to 70 members for high-profile games. Crucially, the report added that 'there have been no large turnouts of risk at any home or away fixtures for many years and there have been no measurable incidents of violence.'
Contrasting Risks and Community Tensions
The assessment praised the majority of Villa fans, noting they were positive and 'engage well with visiting supporters and will have positive interactions with the police.' It did highlight the potential for some to overindulge in alcohol, particularly given the late 8pm kick-off on Thursday, November 6.
Regarding the sensitive nature of the match, the report acknowledged the established Jewish Aston Villa fan base, known as Aston Villa Jewish Villans. It flagged the potential for anti-Israel chanting, the presence of Palestine flags inside the stadium, and a risk of antisemitic hate crime. Despite this, the overall risk from Villa fans was deemed 'low risk'.
This stood in stark contrast to the assessment of Maccabi Tel Aviv's supporters, who were classified as a 'high risk'. The report cited a hardcore of ultras, potentially numbering in the hundreds, some with recent fighting experience and links to the Israeli Defence Force.
Aftermath and Major Police Operation
Police confirmed they had even investigated holding the game 'behind closed doors' to ensure impartiality and avoid trouble. Ultimately, they advised that a ban solely on Maccabi fans was the most appropriate course of action, as it would be 'unfair on Villa supporters who have no recent history of disorder.'
Despite backlash from politicians and Jewish groups, the ban on away fans was upheld after a review. On the night of the match, a major police operation was still required, deploying 700 officers across the city. This resulted in 11 arrests.
While there were flare-ups and confrontations, including reports of hostile chants, the operation was successful in preventing any significant outbreaks of violence or damage, confirming the overall 'low risk' assessment of the local fanbase.
