The future king will skip his favourite team’s Europa League game due to The Earthshot Prize ceremony in Brazil.
Prince William has left some of his most devoted supporters disheartened after confirming he will miss Aston Villa’s upcoming Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv next month.
The Prince of Wales, a lifelong Aston Villa fan and regular at the team’s major fixtures, will be unable to attend the game at Villa Park on November 6th. His absence comes as he travels to Brazil to attend The Earthshot Prize ceremony, scheduled for November 5th.
William has been a loyal supporter of the Birmingham-based club for more than two decades and was frequently spotted cheering from the stands during last season’s Champions League matches. However, this will mark another missed opportunity for the royal to show his support in person. He also missed Aston Villa’s first home Europa League fixture earlier this season, a 1–0 victory over Bologna in September.
Adding to the match’s complications, Aston Villa announced that no away fans would be permitted to attend the upcoming game. In a statement, the club explained that the decision came from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which issues safety certificates for every match based on security assessments.
“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,” the club said. “West Midlands Police have raised public safety concerns outside the stadium and about their ability to manage any potential protests on the night.”
The club added that it remains in contact with Maccabi Tel Aviv and local authorities to ensure the safety of both fans and residents.
UEFA, the governing body for European football, also confirmed that decisions regarding safety remain under the jurisdiction of local authorities.
