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

[WassallVillain]

Villa warn fans against political messaging

Aston Villa's warning is proof that even with Maccabi declining any tickets, the stakes remain high before one of the most highly politicised matches English football will have seen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce86vy4dvdmo

Whats this crap about Birmingham hosting future events?

Bullshit made up statement for rage-bait.

I imagine the BBC would much rather events are staged in Manchester.

[purpletrousers]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/21/police-intelligence-on-extreme-maccabi-fans-with-history-of-violence-led-to-villa-park-ban

Turns out the main reason Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned is because they are violent racist arseholes who were expected to cause trouble. Who knew?

The Jonathan Liew piece, linked to within this Guardian piece, is the best analysis of the situation Ive read in the mainstream media.

Thanks, yes, now found that
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/21/standing-with-maccabis-football-hooligans-against-local-police-is-that-what-patriotism-looks-like-now

In case anyone else missed it.

Yours still somewhat confused as to what to do re attending. 

If there was a chant of “Free, free, free Palestine” I think I’d feel morally obliged to join in (possibly not start one)
Do I want to put myself in that situation and possible kerfuffle that might follow?

We have so so little voice in international politics, of the ability to be heard when we need to be. I think staying silent speaks of a complicity I can’t do. Ach.