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Conflict in the Middle East

Israelis should be welcome in Birmingham

585 replies

mids2019 · 19/10/2025 12:39

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.

Parts of Birmingham 'can't be a no-go area for Jews', says Ed Miliband

The Energy Secretary said Britain 'cannot have a situation where any area is a no-go area for people of a particular religion or from a particular country'.

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:12

SaratogaFilly · 19/10/2025 14:07

The ban was stated because the police couldn't protect the Tel Aviv fans, nothing to do with the fans themselves being dangerous. It’s shocking that in a democratic society, law abiding people are banned from anywhere. FWIW, I’m in Birmingham & this makes me feel the exact opposite of safe - police giving in to thuggery and bullying from a subset of the Birmingham community. It’s shameful.

If you read the full statement the police didn't just give one reason why they supported the SAG decision (because it's not simply the police who decide) and they included the past behaviour of the fans, the safety of the local community, the difficulties of policing the protests and the job of keeping the fans safe. It wasn't a one issue decision, despite certain elements of the press reporting it as if they'd just said "we can't keep them safe so they're banned".

muddyford · 19/10/2025 14:12

They should play the match behind closed doors, if the police can't keep fans safe. You can't just ban one nation, it's racist.

quantumbutterfly · 19/10/2025 14:12

SaratogaFilly · 19/10/2025 14:07

The ban was stated because the police couldn't protect the Tel Aviv fans, nothing to do with the fans themselves being dangerous. It’s shocking that in a democratic society, law abiding people are banned from anywhere. FWIW, I’m in Birmingham & this makes me feel the exact opposite of safe - police giving in to thuggery and bullying from a subset of the Birmingham community. It’s shameful.

And not unprecedented, which is concerning.

ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:14

DoubleShotEspresso · 19/10/2025 14:08

I have minimal knowledge or interest in football, but it strikes me as ridiculous and inflammatory to have only one team permitted fans to attend a match. Why can they not just televise the match and keep all the fans out? That way everybody who needs to can see it and no safety risk or policing issues.
It's a no brainer surely?
Otherwise, this sets a precedent for yet more inflated prolonged police costs as per the weekly demonstrations in central London, we just don't have funds for this stuff at this point.

It's quite common when the behaviour of the banned fans is the reason they are banned to only have the other fans. Especially in European matches.

It's not remotely unique to this one.

bigboykitty · 19/10/2025 14:15

muddyford · 19/10/2025 14:12

They should play the match behind closed doors, if the police can't keep fans safe. You can't just ban one nation, it's racist.

Give over. You can ban the 'fans' that have form for violent disorder.

Gloriia · 19/10/2025 14:16

Comedycook · 19/10/2025 14:10

Agree....I imagine any large group of Israelis going to Birmingham wouldn't be safe... regardless of their behaviour.

Exactly.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/10/2025 14:16

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

It's surely not so much that we "cannot have" this, OP, more that we've got them Sad

FWIW I'm another who fully supports banning violent fans - it happens regularly with other clubs - but ALL of them?
Of course the obvious answer would be to play contentious matches behind closed gates and make this very clear in advance, but doubtless the FA would oppose this because of the money involved

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:16

ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:14

It's quite common when the behaviour of the banned fans is the reason they are banned to only have the other fans. Especially in European matches.

It's not remotely unique to this one.

An inconvenient truth being overlooked by some posters. This thuggish group of “fans” has a great deal of form.

DEAROP · 19/10/2025 14:16

bigboykitty · 19/10/2025 14:15

Give over. You can ban the 'fans' that have form for violent disorder.

I think that user believes violence from Israelis is justified

Mercurial123 · 19/10/2025 14:18

Gloriia · 19/10/2025 14:03

And there we have it. The problem is folk are conflating two issues and are using this banning as a way to object to Israel as a whole, under the guise of 'safety issues' when we all know it is because Jews are not welcome. People need to not be so blatant. We see you.

There hasn't been 'forced starvation, genocide or apartheid' rather a conflict started by terrorists that has caused the deaths.

If the police can manage protests every week with frothing people shouting hate then they need to man up and do it a football match as they have done for years.

And there we have it proving my point.

caringcarer · 19/10/2025 14:18

It makes me both ashamed and angry that Birmingham police have come up with this outcome. Any named fan who has a record of criminal behaviour should not get a ticket but this is just a blanket ban on Jews. It is disgusting. Birmingham is going from bad to worse, first they ar bankrupt and don't empty the bins, now they are openly hostile and racist. TH should refuse to allow any Villa fans on return match.

DEAROP · 19/10/2025 14:19

caringcarer · 19/10/2025 14:18

It makes me both ashamed and angry that Birmingham police have come up with this outcome. Any named fan who has a record of criminal behaviour should not get a ticket but this is just a blanket ban on Jews. It is disgusting. Birmingham is going from bad to worse, first they ar bankrupt and don't empty the bins, now they are openly hostile and racist. TH should refuse to allow any Villa fans on return match.

Are Jewish people banned from attending?

ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:20

UEFA should have dealt with it after Amsterdam - that behaviour was absolute ban worthy.

They are very weak on things a lot. Rangers are on a suspended ban (closure of their main stand) for repeated issues at their matches which would see a large section of home fans banned, but away fans allowed.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:21

caringcarer · 19/10/2025 14:18

It makes me both ashamed and angry that Birmingham police have come up with this outcome. Any named fan who has a record of criminal behaviour should not get a ticket but this is just a blanket ban on Jews. It is disgusting. Birmingham is going from bad to worse, first they ar bankrupt and don't empty the bins, now they are openly hostile and racist. TH should refuse to allow any Villa fans on return match.

So there are no Jewish Villa fans?
What nonsense. It’s because these “fans” are notorious thugs who have been banned elsewhere.

Gloriia · 19/10/2025 14:24

ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:14

It's quite common when the behaviour of the banned fans is the reason they are banned to only have the other fans. Especially in European matches.

It's not remotely unique to this one.

Can you really not see the whole picture? It isn't just about some footie louts. They can usually be managed and excluded easily without whole supporting sides excluded.

An MP from Birmingham submitted a petition, he is pro gazan and cited 'genocide' etc on his little speech so not just concerned about the police. He will no doubt have pals in the council with similar leanings.

It is what it represents regarding Birmingham and antisemitism dressed up as 'oh there are some thugs on one supporting side' that is the issue.

bittertwisted · 19/10/2025 14:32

quantumbutterfly · 19/10/2025 13:31

Wiki (!) describes fascism ......Fascism is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived interest of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

That sounds like many groups out and about these days.....interesting times.

No they don’t have to. Liverpool fans were banned from Europe because of the behaviour of some of them

it is a normal protocol

ARichtGoodDram · 19/10/2025 14:36

Can you really not see the whole picture? It isn't just about some footie louts. They can usually be managed and excluded easily without whole supporting sides excluded.

An MP from Birmingham submitted a petition, he is pro gazan and cited 'genocide' etc on his little speech so not just concerned about the police. He will no doubt have pals in the council with similar leanings.

It is what it represents regarding Birmingham and antisemitism dressed up as 'oh there are some thugs on one supporting side' that is the issue.

Yes, I believe i can see the whole picture.

As I said earlier, the MP and his petition should be dealt with, but his petition shouldn't nullify the fact that this was always a high risk match (MTA's always are) and a safety decision had to be made. The fans should no more be allowed to travel just because of him than they shouldn't be - he's not someone who should be relevant to the decision.

The fans of MTA have had to be banned from numerous places on numerous occasions. As I've already said, UEFA should have dealt with it as the governing body after the scenes in Amsterdam.

If I believed the decision was made solely on the MPs petition I would be in complete agreement with you, but I don't think it was. I think based on their behaviour they should be banned. And I'd say that if they were playing Villa, Man City, Celtic, Ajax or whoever. Just as I think the rangers ban being suspended was a nonsense I think it's a nonsense that UEFA are leaving this to individual match by match decision.

Making a decision "should the MTA fans be allowed to attend this match" is the normal way that safety groups and those responsible have to work because of their behaviour.

Leavesfalling · 19/10/2025 14:39

Hoppinggreen · 19/10/2025 13:20

Despite the fact that you are clearly just being facetious I will answer
We don't need to assume we just need to look at people who are members of organisations who state fascist views

True. Islamists are facists.

bittertwisted · 19/10/2025 14:40

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:16

An inconvenient truth being overlooked by some posters. This thuggish group of “fans” has a great deal of form.

I actually think they think it isn’t a thing, its so bizarre
fan bans have been around for decades, based on the behaviour of those fans. I would guess the vast majority of Liverpool fans in the 80s were Christians, they were not banned for being Christians.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:43

Leavesfalling · 19/10/2025 14:39

True. Islamists are facists.

As are many members of the Israel Cabernet and the illegal settlers. Fit the above definition very nicely, indeed.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:44

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:43

As are many members of the Israel Cabernet and the illegal settlers. Fit the above definition very nicely, indeed.

Cabinet, predictive text!

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:44

bittertwisted · 19/10/2025 14:40

I actually think they think it isn’t a thing, its so bizarre
fan bans have been around for decades, based on the behaviour of those fans. I would guess the vast majority of Liverpool fans in the 80s were Christians, they were not banned for being Christians.

Yes, but, anti-Semitism.

Hoppinggreen · 19/10/2025 14:46

LauraNorda · 19/10/2025 13:36

Why is the membership of an organisation a condition?

So that its easier to tell what their affiliations might be

Leavesfalling · 19/10/2025 14:46

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 14:43

As are many members of the Israel Cabernet and the illegal settlers. Fit the above definition very nicely, indeed.

Well as long as we acknowledge it's not just them.

Although of course "facsist" has lost its meaning due to overuse these days so it will be interesting to see what word replaces it and for whom.

kirinm · 19/10/2025 14:48

DEAROP · 19/10/2025 13:10

Are Israeli Villa fans banned from attending then?

do they have a history of violence? Then probably not.

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