Europa League 2025-26

[cdbearsfan]

I'm struggling to see why the police would ban 5,000 or so Scotland women fans from attending a match against Israeli opposition but be perfectly fine with 40,000 Villa suppprters doing so.

Because the Scots are more troublesome than Brummies. That's why the Romans gave up on the idea of conquering them.

Was actually because the Dacians kept kicking off and Rome decided their troops were more valuable there than in Caledonia.

[Somniloquism]

I dont think the Free Palestine mob has much of constituency in the sort of lads who like to dress moodily and give Celtic a good hiding. A Palestinian flag was pulled down outside of Rosies before Ajax the other season.

The 4-500 they might bring would be a probelm regardless as they have a reputation for being dickheads, but its nothing that couldn't be handled or seen before.

I think folks should calm down.

Have you considered the likely peaceful protests blocking the turnstiles to enforce a boycott of Israel?

Good luck to anyone trying to stop 42k Villa fans from trying to get into the ground if the game is on.

Yes, there is no history whatsoever this decade of Villa playing matches behind closed doors.

I think Wolfman is stating if the match is open but people try to block the open turnstiles in a protest. I doubt 42k would travel if it is a closed door match.

[AlexAlexCropley]

I'm struggling to see why the police would ban 5,000 or so Scotland women fans from attending a match against Israeli opposition but be perfectly fine with 40,000 Villa suppprters doing so.

Because the Scots are more troublesome than Brummies. That's why the Romans gave up on the idea of conquering them.

Picts

[Pete3206]

I'll be very surprised if the game even goes ahead at Villa Park. Organised protests, emboldened and angry locals, disagreements amongst supporters.
Nah, that match ain't happening in B6.

[cdbearsfan]

I dont think the Free Palestine mob has much of constituency in the sort of lads who like to dress moodily and give Celtic a good hiding. A Palestinian flag was pulled down outside of Rosies before Ajax the other season.

The 4-500 they might bring would be a probelm regardless as they have a reputation for being dickheads, but its nothing that couldn't be handled or seen before.

I think folks should calm down.

Have you considered the likely peaceful protests blocking the turnstiles to enforce a boycott of Israel?

Good luck to anyone trying to stop 42k Villa fans from trying to get into the ground if the game is on.

Yes, there is no history whatsoever this decade of Villa playing matches behind closed doors.

I think Wolfman is stating if the match is open but people try to block the open turnstiles in a protest. I doubt 42k would travel if it is a closed door match.

Yeah, and the turnstiles would be closed. I can't see 40,000 turning up with ladders.

[Sexual Ealing]

We're 6/1 favourites with the (British) bookies. I don't like that at all.

[cdbearsfan]

We were favourites in the Conference League I think.

[Skerra]

Wouldn’t be wanting to pay for the Europa League package at the prices Villa have offered.
If these were PL opposition, the price category would be the lowest possible considering the quality of our opponents.

[Sexual Ealing]

We were favourites in the Conference League I think.

Yes, we were.

[Grande Pablo]

The powers that be need to balance the volume of largely innocent domestically based away fans who fancy a day out in Birmingham against the pro-Palestinian supporters who'll want to make their voices heard.  On a much smaller scale there are regular protests that provide inconvenience at Israeli-owned military drone manufacturer Ebit Systems in Shenstone, plus on an even smaller scale 4 broke into Moog in Wolverhampton last weekend, so potential is there.

All tickets must be sold to registered members.  WMP can invoke section powers a mile or so around the ground to prevent protest & any subsequent congestion, plus have to manage where Maccabi stay as that could well be a target.

To play behind closed doors is a cheap way out, but I can see it happening just to avoid the smallest powder keg.

[Dave]

^^^Not if we don't give them any tickets, which I'd imagine will be police advice.

And also it is likely that police are unlikely to give permission for any demos around Villa Park on match day.

93-94 away shirts all round

[Gareth]

Interesting reporting on the draw from the Mail & Athletic guys…Maccabi gets barely mentioned but glossed over…no doubt waiting for Villa to give a party line to follow. 

[PeterWithesShin]

Good draw, anything less than 17 points would be piss poor, and should be more.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Home fans only vs Maccabi, simples!

Simplest would have been if Israeli teams had been banned in the first place.

[Ads]

I do expect fighting between people who might decide to protest over the plight of the palestinians about the famine inducing actions of the IDF there, and Ads when he tells them all they are being anti-semitic, the definitions which mean it isn't a genocide and that they are being brainwashed by Iran and Qatar.

I'll be there to watch us get three points.

If I could live anywhere rent free, I wouldn't have chosen your head though.