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

[Reuben]

Could easily have just got the sack at work for being accused of supporting ‘a racist football club’.
.

Having been part of a workplace grievance recently where commenting on Israel's Eurovision place was seen as antisemitic, this whole thing pisses me off.

[Dave]

The state of this:



First of all, the likelihood of born-in-1982 Wolves fan Robert Jenrick having much cause to pop into the away end at Villa in the 80s seems slim.

Second of all, a Tory politician having the brass neck to describe trouble at football matches as "good natured fun" given how his party treated supporters at that time is spectacular, even by his standards.

[Ian.]

I think Robert might have found himself sat in the Panini Sticker family enclosure in the North Stand if it was the late 80’s and good natured fun. That’s if its actually true.

[andyh]

This whole shitshow, It just gets worse and fucking worse.

If Starmer had kept his big mouth shut, this would have blown over in a few days, now the whole world and his rabid dog is involved.

[Clampy]

If he was a Wolves fan, didn't they spend a lot of time in the eighties getting relegated then getting promoted again, so we wouldn't have played them much anyway?

[Meanwood Villa]

The only time we played them in competitive fixtures in the 80s and 90s after they were relegated in 1983/84 were the League Cup in 1989/90 and 1995/96. He talks about attending "more than a few" matches. He could be talking about friendlies, I haven't checked. Or maybe he deserted Wolves like so many others and his Dad took him to support whoever Villa were playing. Or maybe, just maybe, he's talking horseshit to try and prove some point or other, fuck knows what.

[Dave]

If he was a Wolves fan, didn't they spend a lot of time in the eighties getting relegated then getting promoted again, so we wouldn't have played them much anyway?

As I said. He didn't really have much reason to be popping into the away end at Villa Park in the 80s.

[andyh]

The only time we played them in competitive fixtures after they were relegated in 1983/84 were the League Cup in 1989/90 and 1995/96. He talks about attending "more than a few" matches. He could be talking about friendlies, I haven't checked. Or maybe he deserted Wolves like so many others and his Dad took him to support whoever Villa were playing. Or maybe, just maybe, he's talking horseshit to try and prove some point or other, fuck knows what.

I think the point he’s making is that a bit of football violence is fine, it’s all just part of the tough and tumble of the game and is spiffingly good fun.
The rozzers will sort it.

I wonder if he can take a punch now ?


******!!!!!!

[Mister E]

It’s just occurred to me that poetically, we play Spurs on Sunday!

Ahem ...

The media feeding frenzy over the MTA game has now ensured that the ground will become a magnet for Tommy nine-names' acolytes and the Stop the Genocide protesters. My guess is it may become an afternoon game played behind closed doors.

What an irony that the timing of the announcement couldn't have been better-timed as we plan to take on Spurs ...

I do wonder what reaction we'll get from the home crowd.

[frank black]

Interesting that this story seems to have been removed from the BBC APP (front pages) They are obviously aware of the impact of publicity fanning the flames . The u turn is coming

[Martyn Smith]

If he was a Wolves fan, didn't they spend a lot of time in the eighties getting relegated then getting promoted again, so we wouldn't have played them much anyway?

As I said. He didn't really have much reason to be popping into the away end at Villa Park in the 80s.

Reminds me a bit of Tony Blair saying he remembers watching Jackie Milburn playing for Newcastle at St James Park, despite having only been 4 when Milburn retired. Politicians lying for street kudos

[eye digress]

Does no one think there would be "thugs" from both sides intent on trouble - surely it would not be just one side?

Why would such a question matter?

MTA fans have very recent history of instigating acts of violence, racism and general hooliganism.

In ordinary circumstances, wouldn’t that alone be enough to warrant a travel ban?

If it had been Villa fans at the centre of the scenes in Amsterdam, would you expect them to be welcome in Barcelona, Marseille, Naples?

[SamTheMouse]

Does no one think there would be "thugs" from both sides intent on trouble - surely it would not be just one side?

MTV fans have very recent history of instigating acts of violence, racism and general hooliganism.

Reputedly caused by the subliminal messaging in the Buggles video.

[Sexual Ealing]

If he was a Wolves fan, didn't they spend a lot of time in the eighties getting relegated then getting promoted again, so we wouldn't have played them much anyway?

As I said. He didn't really have much reason to be popping into the away end at Villa Park in the 80s.

Reminds me a bit of Tony Blair saying he remembers watching Jackie Milburn playing for Newcastle at St James Park, despite having only been 4 when Milburn retired. Politicians lying for street kudos

He didn't. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7749778.stm

[Ian.]

If he was a Wolves fan, didn't they spend a lot of time in the eighties getting relegated then getting promoted again, so we wouldn't have played them much anyway?

As I said. He didn't really have much reason to be popping into the away end at Villa Park in the 80s.

Even if it’s true, it might be, as a kid I watched West Brom, Wolves and Villa with my dad, My uncle, an Irish Liverpool fan, went to many local grounds depending who was home. My memories as a kid were also generally light hearted fun at the matches, probably as I was always in the family enclosures, sitting safely with other dads and kids. We took my cousin once at 4 years old and he slept through a boring 0-0 draw with QPR. What I’m saying is, although there was probably awful violence going on, my uncle or dad could still manage to take me to games and avoid it. All I remember is sitting in the stand, watching the match.

I’d be foolish, to look back now and to believe that my memories were very different to the fighting that happened around the ground, pubs, fields or housing estates and were quickly nipped in the bud by the police and no harm was done.