<article data-history-node-id="431082" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/exclusive-violent-maccabi-fans-were-organised-fighters-linked-idf-uk" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/exclusive-violent-maccabi-fans-were-organised-fighters-linked-idf-uk" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Exclusive: Violent Maccabi fans were organised fighters 'linked to IDF', UK police found</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Dutch police told their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">British</a>&nbsp;counterparts that over 200 Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-hooligans-provoke-clashes-amsterdam-after-chanting-anti-palestinian-slogans" target="_blank">wreaked havoc</a>&nbsp;in Amsterdam in November 2024 were "linked to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel&nbsp;</a>Defense Forces [IDF]", and that hundreds more were "experienced fighters", "highly organised" and "intent on causing serious violence", Middle East Eye can reveal.</p> <p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/maccabi-tel-aviv-declines-tickets-uk-game-over-tommy-robinson-intervention" target="_blank">recent ban</a>&nbsp;on fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a 6 November fixture at Aston Villa in Birmingham&nbsp;triggered a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/corbyn-demands-lisa-nandy-retract-accusations-against-independents-police-intelligence" target="_blank">political furore</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/corbyn-demands-lisa-nandy-retract-accusations-against-independents-police-intelligence" target="_blank">denounced</a>&nbsp;as antisemitic&nbsp;last month by the British government.&nbsp;</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The Guardian&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/21/police-intelligence-on-extreme-maccabi-fans-with-history-of-violence-led-to-villa-park-ban" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;on 21 October that the police assessment "concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club".</p> <p>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.</p> <h3>Read more:&nbsp;<a aria-label="Exclusive: Violent Maccabi fans were organised fighters 'linked to IDF', UK police found" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/violent-maccabi-fans-included-organised-fighters-linked-idf-uk-police-found">Exclusive: Violent Maccabi fans were organised fighters 'linked to IDF', UK police found</a></h3> <p><img alt="Maccabi Tel-Aviv's supporters cheer for their team during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 3 football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and FC Midtjylland at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola on October 23, 2025." src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/000_79ue8tz%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?itok=OQEnYyYY"></p> </div> </div> </article>

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