PM: 'Wrong' to block Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa match
Discussion
BBC said:
The prime minister has said blocking fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a football match in Birmingham is the "wrong decision".
Aston Villa said on Thursday that the city's Safety Advisory group - responsible for issuing safety certificates - had advised that fans of the Israeli club would not be permitted to attend the 6 November Europa League match.
West Midlands Police said it supported the decision, saying it had classified the fixture as "high-risk".
Sir Keir Starmer criticised the move, saying "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets" and that the role of police was "to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation".
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded the decision a "national disgrace" and suggested Sir Keir should act to reverse it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205gnz5p8xoAston Villa said on Thursday that the city's Safety Advisory group - responsible for issuing safety certificates - had advised that fans of the Israeli club would not be permitted to attend the 6 November Europa League match.
West Midlands Police said it supported the decision, saying it had classified the fixture as "high-risk".
Sir Keir Starmer criticised the move, saying "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets" and that the role of police was "to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation".
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded the decision a "national disgrace" and suggested Sir Keir should act to reverse it.
zb said:
Maccabi fans have a history of bigotry and causing havoc, Israeli teams shouldn't play in uefa competitions anyway, nor Kazakhstani for that matter
considering they aren't banned and Juventus and Liverpool are not, do you think it's right that the fans are banned from their own game?zb said:
Maccabi fans have a history of bigotry and causing havoc, Israeli teams shouldn't play in uefa competitions anyway, nor Kazakhstani for that matter
AgreeThe supporters will be pulling the AS card at every moment in spite of their s

Total recipe for disaster given also the higher concentration of Muslims in Birmingham.
The police have a right to say this will not end well so why take the chance.
Politicians need to stay out since they are just headline grabbers and don't think of the people in the local community.
Greenmantle said:
Agree
The supporters will be pulling the AS card at every moment in spite of their s
tty behaviour.
Total recipe for disaster given also the higher concentration of Muslims in Birmingham.
The police have a right to say this will not end well so why take the chance.
Politicians need to stay out since they are just headline grabbers and don't think of the people in the local community.
Would you be happy for police to ban fans traveling to watch Pakistan play cricket because some Tommy Robinson types might turn up and cause a fuss? The supporters will be pulling the AS card at every moment in spite of their s

Total recipe for disaster given also the higher concentration of Muslims in Birmingham.
The police have a right to say this will not end well so why take the chance.
Politicians need to stay out since they are just headline grabbers and don't think of the people in the local community.
Drumroll said:
nikaiyo2 said:
Would you be happy for police to ban fans traveling to watch Pakistan play cricket because some Tommy Robinson types might turn up and cause a fuss?
Yes, if there was evidence that something could happen.brake fader said:
If the ban goes ahead Tel Aviv should be awarded the win, EUFA should make this clear as soon as possible if Birmingham is out of control it's not safe for people to visit and a serious problem than needs to be addressed.
That's fair, and UEFA can always deduct points from teams with hooligan fans.I'm neutral on Hamaston Villa or Tel Aviv Troublemakers, however I can tell you what isn't neutral .. our MPs saying stuff like:
Iqbal Mohamed, independent MP for Dewsbury & Batley, said on X: 'Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents and the British public above the Zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country.'
moanthebairns said:
Drumroll said:
nikaiyo2 said:
Would you be happy for police to ban fans traveling to watch Pakistan play cricket because some Tommy Robinson types might turn up and cause a fuss?
Yes, if there was evidence that something could happen.
fido said:
Iqbal Mohamed, independent MP for Dewsbury & Batley, said on X: 'Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents and the British public above the Zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country.'
Yes, God forbid terrorists and hooligans run riot, you may end up with teachers forced into hiding for offending the locals' backwards sensibilities.STe_rsv4 said:
moanthebairns said:
Drumroll said:
nikaiyo2 said:
Would you be happy for police to ban fans traveling to watch Pakistan play cricket because some Tommy Robinson types might turn up and cause a fuss?
Yes, if there was evidence that something could happen.

Scrimpton said:
fido said:
Iqbal Mohamed, independent MP for Dewsbury & Batley, said on X: 'Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents and the British public above the Zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country.'
Yes, God forbid terrorists and hooligans run riot, you may end up with teachers forced into hiding for offending the locals' backwards sensibilities.1) The Israeli visitors got the hump that there were Palestinian flags everywhere and pulled them down.
2) Local pro-Palestine flag shaggers got the hump so attacked the Israelis.
3) The Israelis didn't like that and assaulted a taxi driver.
I guarantee there's lots of detail I'm missing but that's the executive summary. d


As a country we need to stop picking and choosing which prejudices we prosecute and which we ignore. We either resume our previous trajectory towards being an inclusive society, or we kowtow to the mental religionists with their historical squabbles.
I know which direction I'd rather head...
I suspect a lot of the issues aren't around the visiting fans but the worry of protest about them coming. Add in about 40k other people visiting the match and it looks like an absolute nightmare to sort out.
Legia Warsaw came and caused all manner of trouble, they weren't allowed in but had a massive fight with the cops outside. Villa have had a few European games with badly behaved fans and it's never been a problem.
It looks like the police can handle the visiting fans just fine, it'll be the Pro Palestine protests that have put an end to it I reckon.
Legia Warsaw came and caused all manner of trouble, they weren't allowed in but had a massive fight with the cops outside. Villa have had a few European games with badly behaved fans and it's never been a problem.
It looks like the police can handle the visiting fans just fine, it'll be the Pro Palestine protests that have put an end to it I reckon.
donkmeister said:
<edited for brevity>
As a country we need to stop picking and choosing which prejudices we prosecute and which we ignore. We either resume our previous trajectory towards being an inclusive society, or we kowtow to the mental religionists with their historical squabbles.
I know which direction I'd rather head...
As a country we need to stop picking and choosing which prejudices we prosecute and which we ignore. We either resume our previous trajectory towards being an inclusive society, or we kowtow to the mental religionists with their historical squabbles.
I know which direction I'd rather head...

West Midland Police are capable of dealing with a few Maccabi hotheads, or those who wish them harm. It's shameful that we have MP's, the Safety Advisory Group and WMP themselves who are prepared to make an exception for a team with mostly Jewish fans. It's blatant antisemitism in my opinion, and I truly hope that Starmer & Co. step in to right this wrong.
Greendubber said:
It looks like the police can handle the visiting fans just fine, it'll be the Pro Palestine protests that have put an end to it I reckon.
About the size of it. He who shouts loudest....Anyway, Birmingham, our 'second city', appears to becoming a 'Juden Frei' zone - I hope the locals reflect on this.
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