Discussions to overturn ban on Israeli team’s fans happening ‘at pace’ - Downing Street

By David Lynch, Christopher McKeon, and Catherine Wylie, PA

Discussions are happening “at pace, across Government” to resolve the ban on fans of an Israeli football team in Birmingham, Downing Street has said.

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer wants to do “everything in his power” to ensure Jewish people feel safe in the UK, a No 10 spokesman added.

Authorities in Birmingham are facing mounting pressure to overturn the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the club’s Europa League match against Aston Villa in November.

I won’t pre-empt the conversations, but these are happening at pace, across Government, with all the relevant groups to find a way to resolve this

The UK Home Office has been speaking with police in Birmingham to offer them support, Downing Street said.

Conversations aimed at overturning the ban began on Thursday night, No 10 told reporters, and have also included a phone call between UK communities secretary Steve Reed and Birmingham City Council.

UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy is, meanwhile, “meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try to find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely”, a No 10 spokesman said.

He added: “You can expect to hear further updates today. I won’t pre-empt the conversations, but these are happening at pace, across Government, with all the relevant groups to find a way to resolve this.”

The UK prime minister has been “angered by the decision”, the spokesman also said, adding: “While of course this is an operational decision, we are perfectly entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this.”

He said: “The Prime Minister will do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve and, as he has made clear, we think this is the wrong decision.”