British authorities faced growing pressure Friday to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a European match at English club Aston Villa that Israel's government branded "shameful".

Villa announced on Thursday that following advice from the police no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with the Israeli club in Birmingham on November 6 due to "security concerns".

"Shameful decision! I call on the UK authorities to reverse this coward decision," the foreign minister of Israel Gideon Saar wrote in a post on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a keen football fan, also slammed the move, calling it "wrong" in a statement late Thursday.

"We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, wit

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