Removing Israeli teams from UEFA competitions/Boycotting the Maccabi TA game

[Beard82]

If it is overturned then the odds of there being issues will be a fair bit higher than if we'd just let them attend in the first place as both sides, especially those with fuck all interest in the actual match, will stoke things up even more imo.

I would put money on that less than 1% of the UK population knew this game was even happening, now it is probably the most spoken about match of the seaon

[Clampy]

The antisemitic card (for want of a better word than card) has been overused here. This is just about fan safety all round really. Have politicians forgotten what happened outside a Synagogue a few weeks ago?

[Martyn Smith]

Starmer seems to have an urivalled talent to hurl himself into one elephant trap after another. The government will now ally with violent, racist football fans, accompanied no doubt with Tommy Robinson's thugs and escort them through Aston. The PM of law and order is now protecting  violent, racist football hooligans. And then he'll feign shock and disgust when people resist these goons.

He is absolutely the worst Labour leader there has ever been, bar none. He hardly signposts a thing and just buckles under any pressure from the right

Support for Labout in the polls is now less than half of what it was at the election. If any CEO oversaw a company losing over half of its market share with 15 months they would be out on their ear, no question

[Dave]

I'm not sure that forfeiting the game and probably being kicked out of the tournament would be most popular decision the club could make here.

[Martyn Smith]

The antisemitic card (for want of a better word than card) has been overused here. This is just about fan safety all round really. Have politicians forgotten what happened outside a Synagogue a few weeks ago?

The word lost any real meaning decades ago when Zionists stretched it to mean opposition to their actions.

This isn't just about fans, it's also about the large Asian communities who live around Villa Park who will be under threat from the racist fuckwits both in colours and not

I predict a riot, as The Arctic Ferdinands once sang...

[bob bobson]

I don’t think that Villa cancelling the fixture is actually practical on any number of levels, but I am sharing a draft letter which my friend who is involved in Palestine Solidarity shared with me to show the feeling in local communities.

It is a shame that the club have been put in this position by footballing Authorities that have been prepared to act against Russia but not Israel.

I do fear flashpoints in Aston regardless of an away fan ban on the night. I wouldn’t have been intending to go in any case, but if I had been, I would be having serious doubts.

————————————————-

The Board of Directors
Aston Villa Football Club
Villa Park
Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6HE

**Subject: Urgent Request to Cancel the Europa League Match vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November**

Dear Aston Villa Management,

We are writing to you as a resident of Birmingham and lifelong supporters and members of the Aston Villa family to urgently request that the club cancel its upcoming Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for November 6th at Villa Park.

We welcome the club’s decision to ban away supporters given their notorious anti-Arab racism but feel we still need to go further as a club and cancel the fixture completely.

Our request to cancel the team’s match at Aston Villa grounds in the city is made with a heavy heart, out of deep concern for the profound human suffering occurring in Gaza. Our local community in Birmingham includes many who have friends and family directly impacted by the ongoing bombing and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The immense loss of life, including over 64,000 Palestinians killed, the destruction of homes and hospitals, and the famine conditions confirmed by humanitarian organizations, creates a context that transcends sport.

We believe that at this time, proceeding with a match representing the state of Israel would be deeply painful for these community members and would run counter to the values of solidarity and compassion we hold dear.

Playing this match under these circumstances’ risks causing significant distress within our own community and could overshadow the event with protests, diverting attention from football and undermining the unity that is the lifeblood of our club and our city.

A panel of UN advisers has called for FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel.

We urge you to take a proactive and ethical stand by cancelling the fixture. Such a decision would send a powerful message that Aston Villa listens to its community and stands on the side of humanity during a time of immense crisis.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address, to confirm you are a constituent]
[Your Supporter Number, if applicable]

What a terrible letter.

Can't see anything other than the ban being overturned unfortunately. And given the stoking of the fires, this is going to make the event even worse than it might have been without any ban and subsequent reversal

[London Villan]

The antisemitic card (for want of a better word than card) has been overused here. This is just about fan safety all round really. Have politicians forgotten what happened outside a Synagogue a few weeks ago?

The word lost any real meaning decades ago when Zionists stretched it to mean opposition to their actions.

This isn't just about fans, it's also about the large Asian communities who live around Villa Park who will be under threat from the racist fuckwits both in colours and not

I predict a riot, as The Arctic Ferdinands once sang...

I’m more worried about Villa fans getting caught up in the trouble that will no doubt happen now.

[Martyn Smith]

I'm not sure that forfeiting the game and probably being kicked out of the tournament would be most popular decision the club could make here.

I would rather we did that than reverse this ban to appease Israel and other extreme rightwingers. There would be far more pride to it. And it would prevent a possible riot in the area

[spartacuss]

This conflation of anti-semitism and anti-Israelism is dangerous for Jewish people. My Jewish relatives and friends (I'm from Roma heritage) are once again incensed the way that the genocidal and brutal, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory is given symbolic 'approval' of Israeli's actions when a notorious club like Maccabi is 'normalised' and allowed to play in Europe.  They point out that the age profile of travelling away fans - typically teens to thirties - corresponds to the age profile of IDF members. (Remember, there's a constitutional requirement for Israelis to be drafted into the IDF.)

The well-documented racism and xenophobia of Maccabi fans ( I won't quote some of their most vile chants and actions here on grounds of taste) and IDF membership (recent service in Gaza?) is a toxic mix to bring to Aston and its multicultural environment. (Worth pointing out that many of our stewards who do the security checks are locals: At the Ajax game a substantial number of Maccabi fans refused to be frisked by 'Arabs'.)

In conclusion, my friend David Mond (son of a holocaust survivor) said that Israelis - like white South Africans in previous decades - until they realise that their state with its repressive, authoritarian and colonial occupational ways (Russia/ Ukraine anyone?) should be regarded as a rogue, pariah, apartheid  state.  It's one of the ways the unfortunately brain-washed young population of Israel can realise that what their country is doing, if they are banned from international sporting and cultural events.

David's final plea is for the well-being and safety of Jewish people around the globe, politicians should stop this conflation and identify the major cause of the problem - the right-wing, ethno-nationalists in charge in Israel - the people who have invited the fascist Tommy Robinson to Israel.  (Somedays, you couldn't make this stuff up...!) 

[PeterWithesShin]

Us canceling the game would be dumb as fuck. At best we'd receive a massive fine, at worst be kicked out and receive a ban. Meanwhile Maccabi pick up the win, the win money, and the points that may see them progress to play more matches.

[cdbearsfan]

And also boost the chances of us hosting them again in the knockout stages!

[Crown Hill]

I don’t think that Villa cancelling the fixture is actually practical on any number of levels, but I am sharing a draft letter which my friend who is involved in Palestine Solidarity shared with me to show the feeling in local communities.

It is a shame that the club have been put in this position by footballing Authorities that have been prepared to act against Russia but not Israel.

I do fear flashpoints in Aston regardless of an away fan ban on the night. I wouldn’t have been intending to go in any case, but if I had been, I would be having serious doubts.

————————————————-

The Board of Directors
Aston Villa Football Club
Villa Park
Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6HE

**Subject: Urgent Request to Cancel the Europa League Match vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November**

Dear Aston Villa Management,

We are writing to you as a resident of Birmingham and lifelong supporters and members of the Aston Villa family to urgently request that the club cancel its upcoming Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for November 6th at Villa Park.

We welcome the club’s decision to ban away supporters given their notorious anti-Arab racism but feel we still need to go further as a club and cancel the fixture completely.

Our request to cancel the team’s match at Aston Villa grounds in the city is made with a heavy heart, out of deep concern for the profound human suffering occurring in Gaza. Our local community in Birmingham includes many who have friends and family directly impacted by the ongoing bombing and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The immense loss of life, including over 64,000 Palestinians killed, the destruction of homes and hospitals, and the famine conditions confirmed by humanitarian organizations, creates a context that transcends sport.

We believe that at this time, proceeding with a match representing the state of Israel would be deeply painful for these community members and would run counter to the values of solidarity and compassion we hold dear.

Playing this match under these circumstances’ risks causing significant distress within our own community and could overshadow the event with protests, diverting attention from football and undermining the unity that is the lifeblood of our club and our city.

A panel of UN advisers has called for FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel.

We urge you to take a proactive and ethical stand by cancelling the fixture. Such a decision would send a powerful message that Aston Villa listens to its community and stands on the side of humanity during a time of immense crisis.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address, to confirm you are a constituent]
[Your Supporter Number, if applicable]

What a terrible letter.

Can't see anything other than the ban being overturned unfortunately. And given the stoking of the fires, this is going to make the event even worse than it might have been without any ban and subsequent reversal

I think the ban will be overturned. The Maccabi supporters will be bussed in from a central point at great expense. The demonstrators won’t turn because they know they will be so heavily outnumbered by Villa supporters. If they have any sense they will change to a 5.30 (or whatever time) for an earlier kick off.

[PeterWithesShin]

A national police unit that advises on security at football matches has backed the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from next month's match in Birmingham.

The UK Football Policing Unit, which is made up of senior officers, gives advice to police forces in England and Wales.

In a statement, the unit says it briefed the Home Office last week about the potential issues authorities might face, including restrictions on visiting fans.

"It is important that we respect and support the structures in place for making these decisions," the statement reads.

"If there are any adverse incidents, then [the Safety Advisory Group and Sports Ground Safety Authority] are the ones that will be held responsible."

[bill]

Will welcome the fans of Macabi to Villa Park, the same as I would welcome any fans. Looking forward to a good game. Anyone thinking differently, can do something else.

[Dave]

I'm not sure that forfeiting the game and probably being kicked out of the tournament would be most popular decision the club could make here.

I would rather we did that than reverse this ban to appease Israel and other extreme rightwingers. There would be far more pride to it. And it would prevent a possible riot in the area

I'm sure you would. But you would be in a fairly small minority.