West Midlands police have clarified that they did not intend to suggest the Jewish community supported the ban on away fans for the Villa versus Maccabi Tel Aviv match at Villa Park. The ban, which drew criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and others, was based on police intelligence and previous incidents, with the match deemed high risk. During a Home Affairs Committee hearing, police officials referenced concerns from various community representatives, including some from the Jewish community, but later stated it was not their intention to imply explicit support from Jewish groups for the ban. The decision was also influenced by information from Dutch police about previous clashes involving Maccabi fans, though some of this intelligence has since been questioned. The match itself saw a significant police presence and passed without major disorder, despite protests outside the stadium.