Ollie Watkins suffered a painful injury during England’s win over Wales (Photo: Getty)

Unai Emery has given an update on Ollie Watkins after the Aston Villa striker pulled out of the England squad through injury.

Following the inter…

‘What message does that send to every Jewish person in Britain?’ the presenter said of the ban.

Keir Starmer has criticised the decision to ban Israeli fans from attending Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv next month.

West Midlands Police has said the fixture at Villa Park on November 6 is classified as ‘high risk’ due to safety concerns.

A police spokesperson said: ‘This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.

‘Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.

‘While the safety certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.’

In response to the decision, Starmer posted on X on Thursday night: ‘This is the wrong decision.

‘We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.

‘The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.’

A statement from Villa on Thursday read: ‘Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.

‘The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.

‘Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture.

‘West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.

‘The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.’

Last November, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were attacked in Amsterdam after the club’s Europa League game against Ajax.

Before the match, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were filmed cheering as a large Palestinian flag was taken down from a building in the city centre, while a clash between fans and a group of taxi drivers was also reported.

One person who attended the pro-Palestine demonstration before police intervened told Dutch broadcaster AT5 that the video which showed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans removing the Palestinian flag had ’caused a lot of anger’.

Ajax fans were angered moments before kick-off inside Johan Cruyff Arena as Maccabi Tel Aviv’s supporters disrupted a minute’s silence which was held in memory of the victims of the deadly floods in Valencia.

Dutch police escorted Maccabi Tel Aviv’s supporters from the stadium to busses and train stations after the match but isolated Israelis travelling away from the main group of fans were attacked on the streets.

Last month, fans of Greek side PAOK held up a banner which read ‘stop genocide’ during their Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Earlier this week, Israel’s national anthem was whistled and booed by Italy supporters during their World Cup qualifier.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Rodri has suffered another injury setback (Photo: Getty)

Pep Guardiola has given an injury update on Rodri after he limped off during Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Brentford on Sunday.

Erling Haaland scored the only goal at the G-tec…

Ex-England striker and Premier League legend Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)

Alan Shearer has delivered his latest Premier League predictions as defending champions Liverpool visit Chelsea off the back of two successive defeats.

Arne Slot&#…

Ange Postecoglou is seeking a first win since taking charge at Forest (Picture: Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images)

Ange Postecoglou may never top winning the Europa League final with Tottenham but victory with Nottingham Forest over FC…

Ex-England striker Peter Crouch (Picture: TNT Sports)

Peter Crouch says Manchester United failed to ‘address’ the ‘obvious issue’ in their squad despite spending almost £200m on new signings last summer.

The Red De…

It has been a slow start at Villa for Elliott.

Shearer casts his eye over some huge fixtures.

Unai Emery loves this competition.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are win-less after six games of the season (Photo: Getty)

Unai Emery is under enormous pressure following Aston Villa’s shocking start to the season and has just lost a key ally at the club.

Monchi, Vi…

The Villa boss fumed with his underperforming players.

Shearer casts his eye over some huge fixtures.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season.

He’s started the season so well.

Ex-Liverpool and England defender (Picture: Getty)

Jamie Carragher has questioned how much ‘ability’ Jadon Sancho has after the winger was branded Manchester United’s ‘worst ever transfer signing’.

Sancho has…

Nicky Butt fears Manchester United have made a mistake by signing Benjamin Sesko instead of a more ‘experienced striker’.

Ruben Amorim, keen to increase United’s threat in the final third, put his faith in Slovenia international Sesko.

The Red Devils tried to sign Viktor Gyokeres earlier in the summer but pivoted to Sesko after the Swede joined Arsenal.

Newcastle United were also interested in Sesko but Manchester United won the race, signing the 22-year-old from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £74m.

Sesko scored 39 goals in 87 appearances for the Bundesliga side, including 21 in all competitions last season.

He is viewed as one of the most promising forwards in Europe but United hero Butt is concerned he will emulate Old Trafford flop Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund failed to make the grade at United following his £72m move from Atalanta and moved to Napoli during the summer transfer window.

Given his reservations about Sesko, Butt wishes Manchester United had instead spent the money to sign ‘experienced Premier League striker’ Ollie Watkins.

Watkins was linked with a move in during the summer transfer window and Aston Villa were believed to want around £60m for the England international.

Asked if he was impressed by United’s summer business, Butt told BetMGM: ‘I was and I wasn’t.

‘I know [Matheus] Cunha has done really well over the last couple of seasons but I would really like an experienced striker.

‘I hope I’m wrong but I really hope they aren’t making the same mistakes with [Benjamin] Sesko as they did with Rasmus [Hojlund].

‘A young player coming in with no Premier League experience, it just feels like history repeating itself.

‘Honestly, for what it would have cost, I would have gone and brought in someone like Ollie Watkins, someone to help and pull the young strikers out of a bad patch.

‘When young players are just coming into the club, when the onus is on them to score goals, if they’re having a few bad games they have to have the safety net of being pulled out of the firing line.

‘Ollie Watkins, or someone like that, would be who I would have been looking to bring in.’

Sesko will hope to bring some much-needed firepower to a Manchester United team that finished just 15th in the Premier League last season.

Amorim’s side have four points after three games after beating Burnley, drawing with Fulham and losing to Arsenal.

‘I think everyone will have different views on what represents success for United this season, whether that’s the FA Cup, top four or whatever,’ Butt added.

‘But for me it’s all about getting some belief back into Old Trafford where teams don’t enjoy playing there.

‘No one should like coming to Old Trafford. It’s that simple. Last season you had, no disrespect to these teams, but the likes of Wolves running all over us at home. The fear factor has to come back.

‘Even if we know they aren’t going to win the league or finish in the top four, against the likes of Arsenal or Manchester City or Liverpool at Old Trafford, United still have to put a real shift in and give them a proper game.

‘You might draw or lose 1-0, but they have to look like they’re back on the up. The away form has always been good. The fans travel in their numbers and are amazing. When things aren’t going well, it seems to be the home games that are the toughest.

‘If we can bring back the DNA, that fear factor, then that is a massive step in the right direction.

‘Top six and bringing the confidence back to Old Trafford, get people scared to come there again, that would be an aim this year.’

After the Premier League was put on pause due to the international break, Manchester United return to action on Sunday against local rivals Manchester City.

Sesko will look to open his account for the Red Devils against Man City, who have lost two of their first three games of the new season.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Harry Kane will start for England against Andorra (Photo: Getty)

England’s World Cup qualifying campaign continues tonight when they take on minnows Andorra at Villa Park.

After the Lionesses were crowned back-to-back European champ…

Kobbie Mainoo requested a loan move.

It came after an exceptional season for the forward last term.

Senne Lammens with Manchester United chief Jason Wilcox (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United deadline-day signing Senne Lammens rejected a Premier League club before sealing his ‘dream’ move to Old Trafford.

The Belgian goalkeep…

Did the Red Devils sign the wrong player?

Jadon Sancho joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United (Picture: AVFC)

Manchester United lined up a sensational swap deal on deadline day but Jadon Sancho’s transfer preference stopped the move in its tracks.

Sancho accepted…

Manchester United offloaded Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have made a staggering £92m loss after finally offloading Rasmus Hojlund and Antony on transfer deadline day.

Ruben Amorim included Antony in his &#82…

Things only get better for LIverpool.