LONDON :British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said fans of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv should not be barred from a soccer match in Birmingham next month, as tensions over antisemitism and protests against Israel's war in Gaza dog his government.

Aston Villa said travelling Maccabi fans - who were involved in violence a year ago in Amsterdam - would be barred from the Europa League match on November 6 after West Midlands police expressed concerns about potential protests outside the stadium.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the announcement as "shameful".

Starmer posted on X that it was "the wrong decision".

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