Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters at a Europa Conference League match against Olympiacos at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia, in March last year.

Keir Starmer wants to over-rule a police decision to ban fans of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending their game against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month.

A furious political row has erupted after the city’s Safety Advisory Group, which is responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, told the club no away fans will be permitted to attend the November 6 fixture.

That decision was backed by West Midlands Police, who said they had classed the match as high risk based on “current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences” during a Maccabi Tel Aviv versus Ajax match in Amsterdam last year.

In a highly unusual move, the prime minister criticised the police’s decision on X, claiming it was driven by “anti-semitism”.

He said: “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.”

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.https://t.co/8aBeqE4qbA

HuffPost UK understands urgent talks are underway in Downing Street to examine ways of ensuring Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters can still get into the........

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