London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly “angered” by the decision to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their team’s football match in Birmingham. Downing Street said the prime minister is working to change the decision, which has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.

The West Midlands Police had labelled the fixture a “high risk” event and decided to ban visiting fans from attending over safety concerns. The move has been widely condemned, including by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who joined the prime minister in questioning the justification for the ban.

According to SkyNews report, Number 10 said Starmer believes that legitimate safety issues should be addressed without unfairly restricting supporters from attending sporting events.

The decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a football match in Birmingham has sparked political backlash in the United Kingdom. West Midlands Police classified the match as “high risk”, citing security and public order concerns linked to ongoing tensions related to the conflict in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was described by officials as “angered” by the move and has instructed aides to work on overturning the ban. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that discussions are underway with the relevant authorities to review the ruling.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch also criticised the decision, saying it risked unfairly targeting supporters based on their club’s Israeli identity. Both leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining public safety while upholding the principle of fairness in sport.

Authorities are now reassessing security arrangements amid continued political and public scrutiny.
(This is a developing story)