Rob Rinder outlines major concerns after Israeli fans blocked from attending Aston Villa match

Rob Rinder has expressed his concerns following the news that Israeli football fans supporting Maccabi Tel Aviv have been banned from attending a match against Aston Villa.

It was announced this week that Maccabi fans had been barred from attending the Europa League game, due to take place at Villa Park in Birmingham on November 6, citing safety fears.

In a statement, West Midlands Police said that the game had been classified as ‘high risk’, stating: ‘This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam. Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.’

However, the decision has also been heavily criticised, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tweeting: ‘This is the wrong decision.We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.’

Today, Downing Street emphasised that discussions were taking place ‘at pace, across government’, the aim being to overturn the ban on Israeli fans attending the game.

On Friday’s Good Morning Britain, presenter Rinder was hosting alongside Kate Garraway when he shared his views on the ban, which comes in the same month that a terrorist attack was committed at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Rinder said: ‘After what happened in Manchester, I put out a tweet, and it wasn’t just a tragic day – it felt very much like an important moment, and one where, as you’ll be aware, lots of Jewish people are asking whether or not there is a future for them in this country. That is a real conversation that takes place in private.

‘Now obviously I’m here, proudly Jewish, and I feel confident and I will remain hopeful about the future of this nation.

‘But, at the same time, when it seems as if authorities who are meant to protect you, that are there as part of community policing, are not able to, that does enduring violence to the sense of safety to our community that we experience every single day. And that’s something which has to be very seriously considered by the police in the course of making this decision.’

The barrister shared the video clip from Good Morning Britain on his Instagram page, writing in his caption: ‘After the Manchester attacks, Jewish communities were told: “Don’t let fear win.” Today, Israeli fans are being banned from Aston Villa “for their own safety.” What message does that send to every Jewish person in Britain?’

Following the announcement of the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa Park, CST, an organisation that provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, reportedly advised the police that the move would be regarded as antisemitic.

Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held as a hostage by Hamas for more than a year before being released in January, said: ‘I am shocked to my core with this outrageous decision to ban me, my family and my friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the UK.

‘Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite. Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and reconsider.

‘I do wonder what exactly has become of UK society. This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying: “No Jews allowed.” What has become of the UK where blatant antisemitism has become the norm? What a sad world we are living in.’

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

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