The Prime Minister will “do everything in his power” to ensure Jewish people are safe, Downing Street said, after fans of an Israeli team were banned from a game at Villa Park.

The update came amid growing pressure for a U-turn on a decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from a Europa League game against Aston Villa on November 6.

The decision, made by a multi-agency safety advisory group, was announced last night and has the backing of West Midlands Police. But a backlash has grown with senior politicians, including the PM, calling for a rethink. Talks on the issue were being held today.

READ MORE: Luxury life of £28m timeshare fraudster who preyed on Midland victims

A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister will do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve and, as he has made clear, we think this is the wrong decision.

“Like everyone seeing this news, the PM has been angered by the decision. Football has been a unifying force for decades and everyone should be able to attend a football match without fear of violence or intimidation regardless of their religion, nationality or background.

“We should not have a country where we have to tell people to stay away from certain events because we cannot protect them, or they may be a victim of racism. This Government will everything in its power to heal society and tackle divisions. We want a Britain built for all and we will never tolerate antisemitism on the streets.

“While of course this is an operational decision, we are perfectly entitled to speak out on fundamental principles of fairness like this. Ministers across Government have been urgently working to support the police and local authority to ensure all fans can enjoy the game safely.”

The Press Association said it was understood the Community Security Trust, which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, had advised police the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be seen as antisemitic.

West Midlands Police was believed to have contacted the CST last week to ask how it thought the Jewish community might react to a ban on Israeli fans attending the football match. The Trust was understood to have advised the community would likely be angry and upset and that the ban would widely be seen as antisemitic.

While the CST provides security advice and equipment to Jewish schools, organisations and synagogues across the UK, it does not have involvement in security or policing of football matches.

Downing Street said discussions were happening “at pace, across Government” to resolve the ban. The No 10 spokesman told reporters: “Conversations began on this last night.

“You will have seen the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has asked police and Birmingham ’s Safety Advisory Group to immediately review the decision. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try and find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely.

“The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, spoke to the local council this morning, and the Home Office is urgently working to support police to try and find a way through this.

“You can expect to hear further updates today. I won’t pre-empt the conversations, but these are happening at pace, across Government, with all the relevant groups to find and resolve this.”