The combined Maccabi thread - now with are you going? poll

[PeterWithesShin]

'Resources will be found' to police Maccabi Tel Aviv game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj971rwyzlgo

[astonvilla82]

I see Tommy two Names is going to be in attendance.

Somewhat ironically he travels on an Irish passport! Plenty who have recently starting waving Israeli flags at Windsor Park in Belfast also do.

Robinson's mother Irish, Dubliner I think?

[Meanwood Villa]

'Resources will be found' to police Maccabi Tel Aviv game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj971rwyzlgo

I assume the latest statements by MTA might have overtaken events somewhat

[nodge]

Turned down their allocation

[Ads]

Turned down their allocation

Seems a bit like "you wouldn't know her, she went to another school" sort of comment from them.

[PeterWithesShin]

They turned down their allocation in the same way I turned down Mila Kunis.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

a statement on the Maccabi website on Monday evening read: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and, from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans, and our decision should be understood in that context.

“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/maccabi-tel-aviv-will-decline-europa-tickets-offered-to-away-fans-at-villa-park/ar-AA1OPWzZ?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[Dave]

Probably quite a smart way out for them.

This way they get the maintain a permanent "it wasn't safe for us with all the Birmingham Muslims so we had no choice" story which doesn't get ruined by their thugs being all thuggy.

[pauliewalnuts]

I wonder if this is something we've agreed on with them, club to club, given that it's a bit of a shit show all-round.

[Brend'Watkins]

Agree with the last two posts. Hopefully MTA have copped in Yaxley Lennon.

[Brazilian Villain]

MTA club statement. https://x.com/MaccabiTLVFC/status/1980383204210061538

[brontebilly]

A quick search of the internet would suggest that their clubs anthem is about the colours they play in?

Maybe Mr EK94227386, who appears to post obsessively and exclusively about Israel, isn't quite the trusted source you'd naturally assume they would be.

Forget the internet, where's your evidence of "holocaust trivialising on this thread alone"?

Martyn Smith calling it Holocaust-Falavour. Don't worry, you didn't post any holocaust trivialising things, you just drew on more classic anti-semitic tropes with your "new world order" comment.

I didn't see that specific comment, my read of the commentary here generally was that it was balanced. Concern over the safety of other Villa supporters and local residents was the overriding theme from most on here. You always wanted this game played regardless of the risk to others.

My comment was solely in relation to Britain's sad current position, particularly a Labour led government, in global world affairs desperately trying to stay onside at all costs with a horribly racist and regressive US administration. That's the only reason Starmer has jumped all over this.

[olaftab]

A lot of Islamophobic people use the Jewish people as a cipher for their rampant racism.

And the same people intensely dislike Jewish community as well but it’s more that their current target is Islam.

[Dave]

You always wanted this game played regardless of the risk to others.

I think "Villa should definitely play the match that they are scheduled to play" would likely be a majority one amongst Villa supporters.

I'm not joining Ads on his barricades for many things, but this doesn't feel all that controversial.

[olaftab]

MTA club statement. https://x.com/MaccabiTLVFC/status/1980383204210061538

Total diatribe. They have picked up on all the buzz words to shift  blame away from the fans. They should have made it more simple “our fans are bunch of ****** who can’t be trusted anywhere as proved in Tel Aviv this week so we don’t want them shaming us further in Birmingham”