FM Sa’ar To UK Counterpart: Reverse Shameful Maccabi Fans Ban

Jerusalem, 18 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, voicing his opposition to the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the European League match against Aston Villa next month.

“This is a scandalous prohibition. The Foreign Minister has made it clear that we expect this shameful decision to be reversed,” his office stated.

During the conversation, Cooper expressed the British government’s reservations about the decision and said that work would be done to find an appropriate solution. Sa’ar also called for action against the slogan “From the river to the sea”, as it refers to a call for the destruction of Israel.