Aston villa v Macaabi Tel Aviv

[morninbob]

No away fans allowed as the police can't guarantee their safety.
https://x.com/AVFCOfficial/status/19788 ... xNdWA&s=19

[Milltown1882]

Not wholly unexpected when some of the local councillors were asking for the game to be cancelled completely. Birmingham is a very toxic city at the moment.

[RVclaret]

Seems a racist move.

[morninbob]

It will be them white, middle aged blokes again that Gary Neville warned us about....

[elwaclaret]

Never understood why Isreal is included in European competitions. I think som of Tel Avis’s fans can be seen as to blame from past behaviour as potential problems from within Birmingham, which no doubt there are.

[Greenmile]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/ ... -amsterdam

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/novemb ... -warszawa/

Seems pretty consistent to me.

[daveisaclaret]

Possibly due to the Maccabi fans marching through Amsterdam last year chanting death to Arabs and assaulting innocent people.

[burnleymik]

Possibly due to the Maccabi fans marching through Amsterdam last year chanting death to Arabs and assaulting innocent people.

All the arrests were for violence AGAINST the travelling fans?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy81qvn7gjo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78dzr432x7o

[daveisaclaret]

All the arrests were for violence AGAINST the travelling fans?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy81qvn7gjo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78dzr432x7o

I don't understand why there's a question mark at the end of your sentence.

[RVclaret]

Possibly due to the Maccabi fans marching through Amsterdam last year chanting death to Arabs and assaulting innocent people.

Yet the 4 jailed were the ‘Arabs’:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy81qvn7gjo.amp

If it was Maccabi fans assaulting innocent people, how come they weren’t charged?

Seems more anti-Semitism at play here, encouraged by the local MP Ayoub Khan. Shameful really…

[daveisaclaret]

Yet the 4 jailed were the ‘Arabs’:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy81qvn7gjo.amp

If it was Maccabi fans assaulting innocent people, how come they weren’t charged?

The Maccabi fans were quickly flown back to Israel on chartered flights and obviously therefore couldn't be charged.

If you want to pretend what I said was incorrect just come out and say it instead of trying to play silly games.

[Greenmile]

Yet the 4 jailed were the ‘Arabs’:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy81qvn7gjo.amp

If it was Maccabi fans assaulting innocent people, how come they weren’t charged?

Seems more anti-Semitism at play here, encouraged by the local MP Ayoub Khan. Shameful really…

How is it antisemitic?

You’re aware that conflating Israelis with Jews is, in itself, textbook antisemitism?

Or are you claiming that it’s Jews that are banned from attending, not just away fans? how will they enforce that? Ask to see your foreskin at the turnstiles?

[RVclaret]

The Maccabi fans were quickly flown back to Israel on chartered flights and obviously therefore couldn't be charged.

If you want to pretend what I said was incorrect just come out and say it instead of trying to play silly games.

I’m not sure that is true, 120 odd were arrested and just 10 Maccabi. Evidence was lacking on the Maccabi fans and there was a focus on the attacks against them, so charges were dropped. You seem to know more than the authorities though…

[ISpeds00]

Let em come i say

[Middle-agedClaret]

I think it’s wrong to stop the Macaabi Tel Aviv fans from attending.
If EUFA has allowed their team to enter the competition, clubs and authorities in other countries represented should be required to allow their fans to be there.
IMHO, of course.

[ecc]

Never understood why Isreal is included in European competitions. I think som of Tel Avis’s fans can be seen as to blame from past behaviour as potential problems from within Birmingham, which no doubt there are.

Because where else can they play?

[Robbie_painter]

I don't understand why there's a question mark at the end of your sentence.

The question mark is there for your benefit not his.I wouldn’t have bothered with it tho as you are quite clearly talking **** as usual.

[ChrisG]

Eintracht Frankfurt have been banned from attending the Napoli game, to the extent that Italy have applied for a temporary revocation of the Schengen agreement so they can check passports to stop the SGE ultras from getting into the country.

The reason for this is an almighty kick off when they played each other a couple of years back

[Rowls]

Shocking.

Jews not safe in the UK.

Let it sink in.

Our police cannot guarantee the safety of Jews in the UK.

It's a truly frightening situation.

[Greenmile]

I think it’s wrong to stop the Macaabi Tel Aviv fans from attending.
If EUFA has allowed their team to enter the competition, clubs and authorities in other countries represented should be required to allow their fans to be there.
IMHO, of course.

How did you feel when Legia Warsaw fans were banned from their game at Villa Park?

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/novemb ... -warszawa/

Any steps taken to keep hooligans away from football matches should be welcomed imo.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/11/eyewit ... amsterdam/

[ChrisG]

Here's the link to the Naples ban:

https://www.hessenschau.de/sport/fussba ... e-100.html

[Greenmile]

Shocking.

Jews not safe in the UK.

Let it sink in.

Our police cannot guarantee the safety of Jews in the UK.

It's a truly frightening situation.

Have Jews been banned from attending? That’s awful, if true.

(of course, if it isn’t true - and it isn’t - your post is unambiguously antisemetic)

[Rowls]

Have Jews been banned from attending? That’s awful, if true.

(of course, if it isn’t true - and it isn’t - your post is unambiguously antisemetic)

It's easy to miss a post in the middle of a thread Greenmile but I don't know how you could have missed the information in an OP?

I doubt this thread will stay here but I'm confident over 99% of people will see how pathetic it is accusing me of being "antisemitic".

[Rowls]

Here's the BBC article.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 9pjv59w95o

[Greenmile]

It's easy to miss a post in the middle of a thread Greenmile but I don't know how you could have missed the information in an OP?

I doubt this thread will stay here but I'm confident over 99% of people will see how pathetic it is accusing me of being "antisemitic".

The link in the OP says the SAG have public safety concerns for the people attending the match if away fans are allowed. It makes absolutely zero mention of “Jews”.

It is antisemitic to conflate Israelis (or Israeli football hooligans) with “Jews”.

So unless Jewish Villa supporters are going to be turned away from the game, your post (not you, necessarily) was unambiguously antisemitic.

[Rowls]

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.

[This is] a national disgrace

Are we seriously saying that in modern Britain we cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish people on our streets and in our sports grounds? I'm not OK with that.

"Greenmile" and "fidelcastro": "Nothing to see here."

[fidelcastro]

"Greenmile" and "fidelcastro": "Nothing to see here."

An Israeli teams' supporters are prevented from attending a game in Europe, due to past and quite recent misdemeanours, and the pro-Israel lobby scream anti-semetism.

Pathetic.

[bobinho]

What misdemeanors?

You know why they have been banned, and it’s got sod all to do with a few football related skirmishes, and everything to do with where this game is being played, and our pathetic and gutless police forces failing in their responsibilities.

2025 and after countless decades of Islamic extremists doing their utmost to destroy peaceful and civilised society by demanding on pain of death that their version of the big sky pixie is the one we all have to follow, there are STILL fools who believe that Jews are the ones responsible for the instabilities in the Middle East and elsewhere, whilst ignoring the fact the side they support are sworn to wipe an entire race of people from the face of the earth. Utterly bizarre.

Disgraceful that we can’t/wont protect a minority coming to a football match because of the extreme, violent and noisy majority.

[Milltown1882]

Will the opinion of the PM change anything? I’d be worried if it doesn’t.

https://mol.im/a/15200003

[Rowls]

An Israeli teams' supporters are prevented from attending a game in Europe, due to past and quite recent misdemeanours, and the pro-Israel lobby scream anti-semetism.

Pathetic.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2y33ee1klo.amp

[Rowls]

Will the opinion of the PM change anything? I’d be worried if it doesn’t.

https://mol.im/a/15200003

Both he and the Home Secretary should have been on top of such a high profile and diplomatically sensitive incident.

His comments are correct and they are nice. But he is in a position to do something about it.

He should not be merely condemning it, he should be getting it overturned.

The Home Secretary actually lay down in the street and closed down a supermarket not too long ago. Why? Because it was selling produce from Israel.

How can British Jews have confidence in her?
How must this look to Israelis?
How does it look to the rest of the world when Britain cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish football fans and resorts to banning them from attending?

It’s shameful.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Just heard this horrifying news.

Appalling to think that an area of our country is a “no go” area for football fans of a certain religion. It flies in the face of everything it means to be British, i.e. a tolerant society welcoming of all people.

What does it mean for Spurs fans, as it is commonly accepted that about 10% are Jewish? Should they now be banned from Villa Park?

This is the textbook example of a thin end of a wedge. It needs reversing immediately, and those in favour of it need sacking.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Statement from Andrew Fox on X. Well done him.


Statement from the Aston Villa Jewish Villans supporters’ club, of which I’m proud to be honorary president:

“In the summer of 1938, on a tour of Germany, the name Aston Villa became famous around the world, as the only visiting team who refused an official request to perform the Nazi salute prior to kickoff. Today, the same club have been forced by the local authorities to salute modern day Nazism.

We lay no blame on Villa - it would absolutely not be safe to allow thousands of Jews to walk around Aston and its surroundings. Why that may be so should trouble the entire country.

It must also be said that following the announcement, we have been inundated with Villa fans happy to give up their seats to travelling Tel Aviv supporters.”

[NewClaret]

Outrageous decision. Hopefully it will be reviewed and corrected.

[quoonbeatz]

…..

[GodIsADeeJay81]

An Israeli teams' supporters are prevented from attending a game in Europe, due to past and quite recent misdemeanours, and the pro-Israel lobby scream anti-semetism.

Pathetic.

Odd that comment, seeing as Chelsea fans haven't been banned from European games after scrapping with opposing fans at the Conference league final in Poland last year

Nor utd or spurs fans after their fighting in Spain ahead of their final last season

Let's not forget the not insignificant danger to English football fans when they're in certain areas of Italy

If, as you claim, it's due to recent behaviour by a teams fans, why isn't that rule applied right across the board?
You know, like it was to English football after Heysel

Its almost like a specific set of fans are being targeted for a reason and it isn't for footballing reasons

[fidelcastro]

Odd that comment, seeing as Chelsea fans haven't been banned from European games after scrapping with opposing fans at the Conference league final in Poland last year

Nor utd or spurs fans after their fighting in Spain ahead of their final last season

Let's not forget the not insignificant danger to English football fans when they're in certain areas of Italy

If, as you claim, it's due to recent behaviour by a teams fans, why isn't that rule applied right across the board?
You know, like it was to English football after Heysel

Its almost like a specific set of fans are being targeted for a reason and it isn't for footballing reasons

Yeah, clearly it's anti-semitic. Isn't everything?

[Enola Gay]

Because where else can they play?

Sorry, didn’t mean to like that, pressed the wrong button.

As for where they’re supposed to play… who says they have to be allowed to play anywhere?

Set yourself up as an international pariah and that’s on you to deal with it, not on everyone else to accommodate it.

[Damo]

I reckon the vast majority of frequenters of this board could have guessed the usernames of posters who would defend this awful descision.

[JohnMcGreal]

I think Maccabi can consider themselves fortunate that they're still being allowed to compete in UEFA tournaments at all.

The conduct of their fans on the road in recent years has been an absolute disgrace, and that's before you get to the behaviour of their own government.

This is barely a story, not that you'd know it from the howls of outrage of some.

Put things in perspective, look at what has been going on. This is an irrelevance.

[RVclaret]

I think Maccabi can consider themselves fortunate that they're still being allowed to compete in UEFA tournaments at all.

The conduct of their fans on the road in recent years has been an absolute disgrace, and that's before you get to the behaviour of their own government.

This is barely a story, not that you'd know it from the howls of outrage of some.

Put things in perspective, look at what has been going on. This is an irrelevance.

Sorry but having sitting Islamist UK MP’s celebrating the decision and labelling their fans as ‘terrorists’, weeks after yet another Islamist terror attack, this time on a Jewish community, is not a non story.

[morninbob]

This decision has managed to unite labour, Tory, Reform and the Lib Dems against it, well done WMP.

[IPAclaret]

What misdemeanors?

You know why they have been banned, and it’s got sod all to do with a few football related skirmishes, and everything to do with where this game is being played, and our pathetic and gutless police forces failing in their responsibilities.

2025 and after countless decades of Islamic extremists doing their utmost to destroy peaceful and civilised society by demanding on pain of death that their version of the big sky pixie is the one we all have to follow, there are STILL fools who believe that Jews are the ones responsible for the instabilities in the Middle East and elsewhere, whilst ignoring the fact the side they support are sworn to wipe an entire race of people from the face of the earth. Utterly bizarre.

Disgraceful that we can’t/wont protect a minority coming to a football match because of the extreme, violent and noisy majority.

Absolutely spot on. Nothing more to be said.

[CaptJohn]

Villa Park, St Andrews, The Hawthorns, The NEC and any other large venues used for staging concerts, exhibitions etc in Birmingham should be avoided because West Midlands police have admitted they are not up to the task of protecting the public. Sad state of affairs in England's 2nd city. I rarely if ever go to the place but is it completely lawless?

[Shaggy]

Israel should be kicked out of FIFA/UEFA competitions anyway. They done it to Russia for less.

[fidelcastro]

Israel should be kicked out of FIFA/UEFA competitions anyway. They done it to Russia for less.

A lot less.

[daveisaclaret]

I reckon the vast majority of frequenters of this board could have guessed the usernames of posters who would defend this awful descision.

The usernames of the posters pretending this is anti-Semitic have of course come as a huge shock to everyone

[ecc]

Sorry, didn’t mean to like that, pressed the wrong button.

As for where they’re supposed to play… who says they have to be allowed to play anywhere?

Set yourself up as an international pariah and that’s on you to deal with it, not on everyone else to accommodate it.

Hi Enola,

We've known each other virtually for years. I know you're erudite and very well-read. And I have great respect for you.

Just a question: do you think Israel should never have been allowed to play international football i.e. since 1948. Or since recent years?

FWIW I have always been fairly pro-Israel but I cannot condone what we've seen these last few years. I would like to see a two-state solution.

FIFA wouldn't have the nads to ban them, we know that?

[GetIntoEm]

What a country we've become.

Allowed to march in the streets in support of a terrorist regime, but not go to a football match.

[daveisaclaret]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_HRUV86bVa0

Look - if fans were on film last year marching through a foreign city chanting "death to Jews" then we would all be in full agreement that banning them from attending a fixture in England would be common sense. Let's assess why some of you don't think this should apply to chanting "death to Arabs"