Israelis should be welcome in Birmingham

Ban face coverings, facial recognition software can then get a database of persistent troublemakers. Especially those that have come from a distance to join in.
I see at least one arrest for refusal to remove a face covering, bet he wasn't the only one covered.

But it wasn’t just pro-Palestine protestors there was it? There were also far right groups and pro-Israeli protestors.

why are you only painting one of the three as violent when there are at least one arrest from the pro-Israeli side and potentially arrests from the far right protestors?

'But I wonder if the pro-Israeli posters will condemn the pro-Israeli protestor who was arrested for racial abuse of a pro-Palestinian protestor?'

I condem racial abuse from any side.

However, back to the point their fans were banned because of the alleged previous violence. It was never about gaza as we saw on this very thread.

Yet we saw crowds of pro pal flag wavers with their tedious gaza placards proving it wasn't ever about 'football hooligans' and all about preventing a clash with the goady locals.

It does make me laugh that people will twist facts.

last night, 11 people were arrested at a football match. We’ve been given details of 9. At least 6 (2/3) were unrelated to Israel Palestine, yet it’s being used as a statistic to show it all kicked off. Yes, two people were arrested for racism against pro-Israeli protesters which is unacceptable. But I wonder if the pro-Israeli posters will condemn the pro-Israeli protestor who was arrested for racial abuse of a pro-Palestinian protestor?

Looking forward to @Gloriia refuting that one..

Well this is just bollocks seeing as a pro-Israeli protestor was arrested last night

'You can almost feel the disappointment from the right that this did not escalate, but it didn’t. Police got it spot on'

The only reason it didn't escalates was because the pro pal flag wavers didn't have anyone to attack!

So yeah, ban the potential victims, what a strategy.

Per your own article

11 arrests made outside the stadium

A 63-year-old man was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence after he was heard shouting racist abuse during a road rage incident near Villa Park
A 21-year-old man arrested after refusing to remove a face covering while a Section 60 order was in place
A 17-year-old who was issued with a dispersal order but refused to leave
A 34-year-old was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators. He was also arrested for possession of class B drugs
A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse at a police officer
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse towards a pro-Palestine group
A man aged 21 was arrested after trying to throw fireworks into the ground
A man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.

so at least one of the arrests was a pro-Israeli supporter. At least six weren’t related to the protest (racial abuse during a road rage incident, the s.60 offence, the dispersal order, racial abuse of a police officer, fireworks and PWITS).

that leaves two who were arrested for racism against the pro-Israeli protestors (unacceptable). The metro doesn’t list the two other arrests.

so of the 11, we can assume that only three were related to the protest.

not exactly hoards of anti semitic people is it? Obviously the two people who shouted racist abuse at the pro-Israel protestors are disgusting and I hope they’re dealt with with the full force of the law, but let’s not pretend this was some sort of mass rally. The vast majority of arrests just happened to occur at the match.

From WMP:

Eleven people, all men or boys, have now been arrested in the area:

• A 63-year-old man arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence after he was heard shouting racist abuse during a road rage incident near Villa Park
• A 21-year-old man arrested after refusing to remove a face covering while a Section 60 order was in place
• A 17-year-old who was issued with a dispersal order but refused to leave
• A 34-year-old arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators
• A 29-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting abuse towards pro-Israel demonstrators. He was also arrested for possession of class B drugs
• A 67-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse at a police officer
• A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting racist abuse towards a pro-Palestine group
• A man aged 21 arrested after trying to throw fireworks into the ground
• A man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.

You have your view point so you will see it as a ‘win’ that there was some minor trouble and arrests but the reality is that if the Maccabi fans had not been banned, there would have been significantly more trouble. Villa fans state it was mostly calm around the ground and they felt safe. The protests were peaceful for the most part and nobody was hurt.

You can almost feel the disappointment from the right that this did not escalate, but it didn’t. Police got it spot on.

Oh but noooo this was never about gaza we were told. It was only about a few football hooligans allegedly.

Absolutely sickening and the pro pal flag wavers there proved what we all knew from the start.

Well surprise surprise and as we knew all along that despite banning the Maccabi fans there were arrests and violence after all by the pro Palestinian hooligans.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/11/06/schools-shut-early-ring-steel-set-aston-villa-vs-maccabi-tel-aviv-24630914/amp/

Maybe if public safety (rather than blatant anti semitism) is the true objective then West Midlands Police might just realise that the problem is with the anti semetic pro Palestinian thugs and not football fans.

Well, I suppose the acid test would be if, say, Haifa United (making this up - no idea if it’s a team) were to come and play a friendly at Aston Villa. If it’s just about thuggish fans and not their nationality then any other team visiting from Israel should presumably not cause such a hoo-ha.

I was aware of most of this

I really don't think so, or you would have mentioned it in your post.

but also aware of the views of certain elected representatives which suggest that funding and security aren't the only motivations here

This is just a straightforward lie because your attempt to blame the Diwali cancellation of Muslims was swiftly disproved. Had you been aware of such a thing, you would have mentioned it in your original post.

Go back and read what I said then read your response which claims something I never said. I post in good faith. As I said in my last post....Don't make things up!

The violent contingent of Maccabi fans are extremists. They must not be pandered to, either

I fully agree, @MrsSkylerWhite, but then as many posts will show I oppose all extremists and not just chosen ones, which is why I don't engage in the all-too-frequent race baiting on these threads

And while I thought you made a great job of putting much of the info about the Diwali celebrations ban in one place, @PuttingOnTheKitsch, I was aware of most of this but also aware of the views of certain elected representatives which suggest that funding and security aren't the only motivations here

Given the response from the pro MTA side, it would be interesting to see what excuses they come up with.

Why would it be interesting? Surely everyone would condemn it as we would violence at any event.

The point is you can't ban fans because of which side you're on in the gaza conflict dressed up as concern for safety. Which is what this is.

It will be interesting to see what the response is on here when/if MTA "fans" turn up and cause trouble after being banned and the club saying that they will turn down tickets.

I know there's literally no point, but maybe watch this

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16W2QguuMh/

The violent contingent of Maccabi fans are extremists. They must not be pandered to, either.
The WM police made the right call.

Oh good grief, might have known he’d wade in. The pure bloody irony of Robinson and his thugs supporting an Israeli team will no doubt completely go over the heads of some people. It would be funny if the whole situation wasn’t so frightening.

@Puzzledandpissedoff or did I misunderstand and were you talking about diwali?

Not sure anyway what the diwali issue has to do with curtailing the activities of violent football thugs

Have you heard of MTA and their history of violent disorder? Just wondering as that doesn't seem to factor in your entirely fictional account of 'what this is about'.

Money

The Diwali parade was cancelled due a funding freeze in 2024 and post Martyn's Law, the legally required security arrangements are too expensive:

"We share the disappointment felt by the community and all stakeholders and assure you that every possible avenue was explored in the effort to host this event as scheduled," organisers said.

"The Soho Road BID remains committed to the safety, prosperity, and vibrancy of our local area, and we will provide further updates on rescheduling in due course."

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn's Law, requires sites with more than 800 people to have extra measures such as CCTV or security staff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpw148rvq41o

If you were so curious, you could have taken two minutes too Google that. Why did you choose not to?

"It is clearly a " let's contain the Islamist leaning rabble rousers in the Birmingham Muslim community ( and the tag alongs) " decision.
THAT'S the common denominator.
Not hard, is it?*

Always remembering this would only be a minority subset of the community, this is what worries me, @EasyTouch. Situations aren't improved by pandering to extremists no matter how much they want it, and it's not hard to imagine how this would have gone down had it been a muslim event which was cancelled