Former Special Branch officer Chris Hobbs explores in detail the complex policing considerations behind the decision to stage an upcoming football match in Birmingham without supporters from the Israeli team.
Following the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their match with Aston Villa the Israeli club has made it clear that they would not accept tickets for their fans to attend the match even if offered.
This news comes in the wake of disorder before a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv last Sunday.
Israeli police described the incident as ‘public disorder and violent riots’ and went on to say: “Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown” adding that; ‘”this is not a football game, this is disorder and serious violence”. Three police officers were amongst the fifteen people injured and, in a scenario familiar to officers in the UK, the Israeli police were blamed for the violence
Whilst some have, with apparent justification, placed the blame on Hapoel fans for the smoke grenades and flares, footage has emerged which purports to show Maccabi fans chasing down their rivals after the game was cancelled.
An identical fixture between the two sides back in September 2023, at the same stadium which they share, saw fighting broke out between rival fans amidst chaotic scenes which resulted in 120 arrests.
In January of this year, a match between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv was abandoned because of pyrotechnics being fired on to the pitch and fighting in the stands.
Fallout
It’s probably unlikely that West Midlands Police will have anticipated the fallout which followed their decision to support the view of the local SAG (Safety Advisory Group) that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be banned from attending their sides match
There seems to be a presumption amongst police critics that this decision was taken lightly accompanied by less than subtle implications that antisemitic attitudes are at play here
The fixture between Dutch club Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, didn’t initially cause alarm bells to be loudly rung because Ajax have strong Jewish links with a reportedly good relationship
Police cooperation
Amsterdam the day before the game saw
Footage shows them running through the streets while violent anti-Arab racist chants were prevalent and captured on social media posts including when they were entering a station on their way to the match
News reports stated; “The evening before the match, on November 6, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were filmed removing Palestinian flags from buildings, shouting racist anti-Arab chants, assaulting individuals, and damaging property. Videos circulated showing Maccabi fans setting off flares and chanting racist slogans.”
Interestingly footage of violence the night before the game has emerged on social media and, as is so often the case, has been manipulated. Hundreds of youths filmed running amok was and is portrayed as ‘Arabs’ despite protests from the lady who actually was responsible for that footage and stated that these were unquestionably Maccabi ultras. The same incident was also captured by a teenage youth who was in no doubt as to what he was filming
After the game however the ‘hunters effectively became the hunted’ as the AJAX ultras together with groups of youths, described as of Arab heritage, chased and attacked Maccabi fans across the city, in what could only be described as serious, widespread disorder. This disorder inevitably put law-abiding Maccabi fans and local Jewish citizens at risk as well as the hooligan element.
This from police oracle