A group of Freiburg supporters have announced their intention to boycott the club’s Europa League game against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday.

The action, the fans say, is a response to heightened security measures, which will include the use of metal detectors, the deployment of a greatly increased police presence, and a ban on flags and banners in parts of Freiburg’s Europa Park stadium.

The measures are, according to the club, the product of “months of close cooperation with the police, authorities and other institutions” for what is “not just an ordinary home game”.

In response, a joint statement issued by the different groups representing Freiburg’s active fan scene explained that the security policy specific to this fixture “so severely infringes on fan cultural freedoms that we have decided to stay away from the game.”

Ahead of the match, the club “asked for understanding regarding the security measures”, explaining that “entrance checks to the stadium would be more comprehensive”, advising fans to arrive earlier than usual.

Supporters have also been advised that all bags will be prohibited, that metal detectors will be in random use, and have also asked that those attending the game “remove all items from jacket pockets, open jackets in advance for better control, and remove head coverings” at the point at which they enter the stadium.

The ban on flags and banners has been seen as being particularly provocative, with the fans’ statement especially critical of “measures that significantly restrict fan culture and freedom of expression in large parts of the stadium.”

The fans boycotting have pledged not to resell their tickets on secondary platforms, and have urged those following their example to do the same. Their statement also clarified that their action is targeted at the security measures imposed upon the event, rather than being a statement in and of itself.

“We explicitly oppose any deliberate misinterpretation of our decision,” the statement continued. “We are aware of the current conflicts and their far-reaching implications, which go far beyond what a fan group at a football match can meaningfully address.

“We stand for opposing any form of discrimination, exclusion, and dehumanizing statements and practices at all times, regardless of their ideological origin — on matchdays in the stadium and beyond.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv also visited Germany last month for a 4-1 defeat at Stuttgart, which saw the Israeli club fined and given a suspended away fan ban by UEFA after a section of supporters engaged in “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour”.

Maccabi were fined €20,000 (£17,560; $23,490) and banned from selling tickets to away fans for one UEFA competition match, but this ban has been suspended for a probationary period of two years.