Israelis should be welcome in Birmingham

[mids2019]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15206171/Parts-Birmingham-no-area-Jews-says-Ed-Miliband-ministers-scramble-allow-Israeli-fans-attend-Aston-Villa-football-match.html

The government need to act on this. West Midlands police have more than enough man power to police a football match with at most 1000 away fans. I watched West Midlands politics today and there was a politician brazenly saying part of the reason for effectively banning the Tel Aviv fans was they there was 'a moral point about Gaza'. We cannot have local councillors, community leaders and MPs agitating for the anti Semitic ban of fans of one of Israel's premier football teams.

We have to face reality want know that a lot of local residents are anti Israel and have taken this opportunity for VIlla Park to become a no go area for Jews.

Let's hope the decision is overturned and quickly.

I didn’t say that. That’s bollocks. I replied to a poster who gave the Warsaw example. But in any case, bans for domestic matches are different to bans for European games. Different sports authorities, different issues, different histories.

And, of course, different nationalities.

English teams were banned (by Thatcher) from Europe for years for violent conduct. Of course there are bans. The stink coming off this one is in the detail.

You referenced 'the old firm' - I thought there was a sectarian grudge between Celtic and Rangers? What grudge do Aston Villa fans hold against Maccabi Tel Aviv?

bittertwisted
why do you think Liverpool fans were banned in the 90s?

If you are referring to the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, 39 people died, 600 people were injured and 14 Liverpool fans were convicted of manslaughter - hardly a comparable example.

The ban is due to violence.

No that exactly why they were banned
behaviour
my then partner was at that game, he did nothing wrong, in fact he was terrified
but he was banned
it’s a blanket ban

And the sectarian grudge is rooted in religion

But there has been no history of violence between MTA and Aston Villa. Whereas there is history of violence between say Rangers and Celtic.

Also if the ban is due to violent football hooliganism then why did the WMP statement say that.

And the blanker ban was extended to all English clubs and their fans for 5 years (6 for Liverpool)

But there HAS been a history of MTA fans being violent. So they got a ban. This happens all the time in football

But if the ban on MTA was because of a history of violence then why didn't the West Midlands Police statement just say this - it would have saved a lot of political fallout.

Also the recent Diwali festival in Birmingham was also postponed due to security fears following the recent Manchester terrorist attacks. Although I imagine that this was also due to a history of violence of Diwali for example in setting off fireworks, candles, dancing and eating copious quantities of ladoos?

Probably because they knew what the reaction would be and anyone with two brain cells to rub together can read the statement and understand what they’re saying. They referenced Amsterdam in the statement! But no, a bunch of fruit loops have decided that this means that Birmingham has become a no go zone for Jews and have started the hysterics again.

You are right that they did reference the violence that occurred in Amsterdam.

The same violence that was condemned by the Amsterdam Mayor, the Dutch PM and the Dutch King as anti semetic.

So I guess it's clear that they didn't want a repeat of anti semitism in Birmingham.

Good lord. It’s like taking to a brick wall

No - the local MP, the Imam and a local councillor all got involved before the event:

[the petition] was launched back in September by Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Citing the "ongoing genocide in Gaza" and the need to "protect local communities" such as Aston in Birmingham, the pair called for either fans to be banned or for the game to be called off altogether.

On October 1, 2025, extremist Islamic scholar Asrar Rashid, who is based in Birmingham, UK, delivered a lecture in Amsterdam, posted on his YouTube channel, in which he commented on an upcoming soccer match between Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa in Birmingham. He stated that "when the [Maccabi] Tel Aviv fans come to [play Aston Villa] in Birmingham in a few weeks, we will not show them mercy in Birmingham."

https://www.memri.org/reports/amid-widespread-controversy-over-uk-banning-israeli-soccer-fans-attending-maccabi-tel-aviv

A Birmingham councillor who claims to advise Aston Villa on safety was previously reprimanded for comments he made about Israel.

The Labour councillor Waseem Zaffar was chastised by the party in 2016 after describing acts of terrorism committed by Palestinians as “a reaction to Israeli oppression and violence”.

The council register of interests states that in February Zaffar was “appointed on to the safety advisory board at Aston Villa FC”. He said last month he was boycotting the Maccabi Tel Aviv match in opposition of Israel.

He wrote last month that he would not attend the match because “the starvation, torture and killing of the people of Palestine carried out by the Israeli government and military have crossed many red lines for a very long time”.

The comments in a local newspaper were before the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) recommended that the match on November 6 should be held without away supporters due to safety concerns.

It is not known if Zaffar is a member of the city council’s SAG.

It comes as it has emerged that the group spearheading protests against Israeli football has declared “glory to the martyrs” on its banners.

Last month Youth Front for Palestine (YFFP) held a demonstration outside Villa Park, where the match is due to be played, at which a speaker said: “Israel, the genocidal state, is not welcome here in Brum.”

https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/aston-villa-maccabi-tel-aviv-youth-front-palestine-dhv9pw3dq

If there is anything I stated that was factually incorrect please feel free to provide links.

The violence was started by MTA fans

Yes, Thankfully actual Dutch residents filmed and went on record that the violence was started by Macabi. They didn't like seeing their city unfairly smeared by Dutch politicians and others who recieved calls from the Israeli government about the "Pogrom" and went on record early condemning it. Then the videos of what really happened came out and they were left with egg on their faces (just like many journalists and politicians in the UK were last night).

Certain misrepresentations rely on people "forgetting" but the Internet was meticulous is keeping receipts....

Jewish community leaders in Birmingham standing outside Villa Park saying they support the ban of Maccabi

They are saying it's nothing to do with religion, or against Jews

"It's a genuine safety concern against hooliganism from Maccabi"

https://bsky.app/profile/implausibleblog.bsky.social/post/3m3nlipmwys2p

But but but!!! Won’t be long before they’re labelled as antisemitic

how dare they actually recognise their are some bad Jewish Israelis
when everyone else seems absolutely certain this isn’t possible

Obviously some differences of opinion:

There was a furious reaction among local Jewish leaders to a decision by a police and council-led security group to ban Israeli fans from a football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv 'on safety grounds'.

Birmingham Jewish community leaders condemned the decision as 'seriously antisemitic', claiming it signified the city's authorities were not committed to protecting a maligned minority. They said they feared the decision illustrated the powerful influence of local pro-Palestine and anti-Israel politicians and activists.

Simone Schehtman, spokesperson for West Midlands Friends of Israel, said the decision had caused further 'deep fear' in an already anxious community.

“I’ll be very honest with you,” Rabbi Yehuda, the 55-year-old leader of orthodox Solihull Synagogue, said.

“I myself hesitate to go into Birmingham. I would be afraid of being physically attacked and even more afraid that the police would not intervene were it be something that wasn’t physical, but someone being extremely aggressive and abusive.”

Despite his reservations, he was angered by the decision to ban Israeli fans from Villa Park, calling it “pure discrimination”.

“It’s sending a very pure message that while there’s anti-Semitism, the response isn’t to confront hate, it’s to restrict the victims.”

Nevertheless, at least 10 Dutch residents have already been convicted for their part in the violence/inciting violence - most receiving short jail sentences.

Which is inexcusable.

doesn’t change that the MTA fans started the violence.

Very glad that the police have stood firm on this. I for one don’t want football to become an arena for thugs to do what they like.

Both set of fans behaved as thugs.

Ajax fans are banned from attending the match in Marseille.