There’ll be no away fans at Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv because Birmingham police aren’t confident they can stop the local chicken shop ISIS wannabes going on a Jew hunt. 2025 Yoookay.
Stop whinging ... they're planning Fanzones in Bradford and Luton apparently...big screens, beer tents and everything...
Absolute joke that. 2025 and we can't guarantee the safety of foreign citizens visiting for a football match? Pathetic.
In fairness I’m not confident anyone’s safety could be guaranteed in much of Birmingham but the tactic of appeasement isn’t a very bright one.
We are an antisemitic country. It’s as simple as that. This wouldn’t happen if they weren’t Jews. They’ll be a lot of people in this country and even on this board that are delighted about the decision.
I doubt that (re this board - and indeed as a country) - being anti Israeli current regime doesn't equate to being anti-semitic - as the considerable opposition to the actions and agenda of this current Israeli regime from Jewish people insurmountably attests) Most of us are, first and foremost, football fans ... and any football match without away support is 'neutered' and compromised as a sporting spectacle... Only my view, of course - but sport should never be politicised ... 'athletes' represent their countries in the purest form - they don't make decisions that kill people - that is wholly down to regimes and the individuals that control them ... there is no equivalence; well not unless those athletes are daft enough to make statements in support of political initiatives...
Whilst I agree with you to an extent this decision strikes me of an example that in this country there are people willing to accept levels of intolerance towards Jews/Israelis which wouldn't be tolerated toward other minorities.
It strikes me that we are unwilling to go against another minority to keep public order and people safe.
Spot the odd one out. Sir Keir Starmer criticised the move, saying "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets" and that the role of police was "to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded the decision a "national disgrace" and suggested Sir Keir should act to reverse it. She wrote on X that Starmer should "guarantee that Jewish fans can walk into any football stadium in this country". "If not, it sends a horrendous and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot go." Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, welcomed the decision: "From the moment that the match was announced, it was clear that there were latent safety risks that even our capable security and police authorities would not be able to fully manage." Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the decision "shameful" and urged officials to reverse it. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was "a serious mistake," adding: "You don't tackle antisemitism by banning its victims. This decision must be reversed." Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the move "takes racial discrimination to a whole new level".
Are Villa fans in support of this discrimination because if so we should ban them from every away game - if not, then they need to ensure this decision is changed. But for sure Villa as a football club, shouldn't be welcomed at any English football ground in the future, because this swings both ways. If it's the police enforcing this change, then Starmer needs get it changed so they are welcome. The Birmingham councillor can go **** himself.
While I’m sure the club were consulted at some point, it’s ultimately not their decision and it would be unfair to drag them into it too much. There’s a creeping trend of Israeli teams being banned for ‘safety’ reasons across sports. This one is unique because we’ve had local religious leaders calling for violence should it go ahead and of course the ever-delightful Ayoub Khan. Celtic were free to roam a city scarred by IRA terrorism singing IRA songs but that was different because, well, Burrmingum.
The game is in three weeks by the way. Not like they’ve had months to make this decision and deal with any appeal before tickets and travel were paid for.
Arguably, yes. But he’ll have advice to keep out of it whether he wants to or not. He doesn’t necessarily have an opinion at all. I doubt it’s top of his in tray.
Told everyone a few weeks back the UK has lost its fkn mind, now foreign fans can't enter certain cities. What's going on like. Even as someone who has most often leaned left in my opinions thinks its getting out of hand now, needs to be big changes.
I’m sure he could pull rank and influence this if he really wanted too. The easy thing is always just to stay quiet, though. Libby nailed it. A bubble would be the way forward. I’m sure the police could take them from the airport to the ground and back to the airport again, keeping them safe in the process.
