Maccabi Tel-Aviv

The chief of the British police force who recommended that fans from Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv be banned from attending a Europa League football match against Aston Villa in Birmingham last year retired on Friday following criticism of that decision.

The U.K.'s home secretary urged the head of one of the country's leading police forces to resign following a report on how fans from Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from a Europa League match against Aston Villa last year.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv, whose supporters were controversially excluded from a match at Aston Villa last month, have been given a suspended one-match away fan ban by UEFA for racist chanting.

MPs are demanding further answers from West Midlands Police over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Europa League match at Aston Villa.

Unai Emery says he only wants to speak about football after Maccabi Tel Aviv had to arrive at the stadium nearly five hours before the start of the Europa League match vs. Aston Villa.

British police said 11 people were arrested Thursday evening ahead of Aston Villa 's Europa League match with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Birmingham.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv manager Zarko Lazetic revealed his side were forced to arrive at Villa Park five hours early for their highly charged Europa League clash with Aston Villa.

Aston Villa coasted to a 2-0 Europa League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv where all the attention was on what happened off the pitch.

Maccabi Tel Aviv manager Zarko Lazetic has said it is sad his side's supporters have been banned from attending the Europa League clash with Aston Villa as a major security kicks into gear.

More than 700 police officers will be deployed to ensure public safety when Aston Villa face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League on Thursday.