Exclusive: Violent Maccabi fans were organised fighters 'linked to IDF', UK police found

Dutch police told their British counterparts that over 200 Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans who wreaked havoc in Amsterdam in November 2024 were "linked to the Israel Defense Forces [IDF]", and that hundreds more were "experienced fighters", "highly organised" and "intent on causing serious violence", Middle East Eye can reveal.

The recent ban on fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a 6 November fixture at Aston Villa in Birmingham triggered a political furore and was denounced as antisemitic last month by the British government.

But the West Midlands Police assessment which led to the ban was based on intelligence provided by Dutch police about the conduct of Maccabi fans during a match in Amsterdam last November.

The Guardian reported on 21 October that the police assessment "concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club".

Now, as the match approaches, MEE can reveal new details of the police assessment which have not been previously reported, and which raise further questions about claims made by government ministers.

This comes days after the police and Birmingham's safety advisory group upheld the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match – after government criticism – although Maccabi Tel Aviv had eventually decided not to sell tickets to its fans for the fixture.

The original police assessment, seen by MEE, records that Dutch police informed their British counterparts that "over 200" Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam last year were "linked to the Israel Defense Forces", Israel's army.

Dutch police reported that "significant numbers of Maccabi fans were actively involved in demonstrations and confrontations".

They said "500-600 fans" were "experienced fighters who were highly organised and co-ordinated. They were intent on serious violence and were not afraid of fighting with police."

'They lied to the British public'

When news of the ban first became public, British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy criticised suggestions that the ban was due to the behaviour of the Israeli club's fans.

'I find it disgusting that the government has taken what is ultimately an issue of public safety and distorted the facts for its own political ends'

- Jeremy Corbyn, British MP

In parliament, she claimed the ban was "based in no small part on the risk posed to those fans that are attending who support Maccabi Tel Aviv, because they are Israeli and because they are Jewish".

Former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn told MEE on Tuesday: "Lisa Nandy must tell us whether she knew about this shocking intelligence before she smeared and attacked those of us who supported the ban."

Corbyn added: "I find it, frankly, disgusting that the government has taken what is ultimately an issue of public safety and distorted the facts for its own political ends. They lied to the British public - and they have been caught out."

Nandy had accused Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, who had backed the ban, of "seeking to divide and exclude", a claim that Khan denounced as false at the time.

Khan told MEE on Tuesday: "This information about the Maccabi fans has not been previously mentioned in the media. The public are entitled to know the full truth of what took place in Amsterdam. The police know it.

"This assessment shows that these fans were attacking Muslims and retaliating against police. They were operating in an organised manner."

When approached for comment, West Midlands Police pointed MEE to a recent statement by Birmingham Police commander Tom Joyce, which said: "We are experienced at policing high-profile football matches and demonstrations, and for many weeks now we have been working closely with different faith and local community groups to listen to their views and concerns.

"Our goal throughout planning for this match is to ensure people can enjoy the football fixture while we continue to keep everyone in Birmingham safe, facilitate peaceful protest and maintain the King’s peace."

'Intentionally targeting Muslim communities'

More than 700 officers are preparing to mount an operation for the match on Thursday, amid planned protests by pro-Palestine protesters, who say Maccabi Tel Aviv should not be allowed to play because of Israel's genocide in Gaza and continued occupation of Palestinian territory.

Amsterdam City Council recently banned Maccabi Tel Aviv from the Dutch capital after the club's fans caused mayhem by rampaging through the city last November, before and after their Europa League match against Ajax.

According to the West Midlands Police assessment, the day before the fixture saw between 500 and 600 fans "apparently intentionally targeting Muslim communities and committing a variety of targeted, hate-motivated crimes, including serious assaults on Muslim taxi drivers, throwing innocent members of the public into the river, tearing down Palestine flags and singing hate-fuelled songs.

"Police attempts to disperse this group resulted in serious violence."

The day of the match saw fans "tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans".

The assessment notes: "Several Maccabi fans were assaulted by masked groups believed to be pro-Palestinian protesters. There were running street battles between the two groups throughout the day.

"Significant incidents of vandalism and street violence, including several attacks on taxi drivers and local communities by Maccabi fans were experienced."

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