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

[Rigadon]

If they have to wear masks they aren't peaceful protesters and can fuck off.

[Crown Hill]

If it’s 6pm there won’t be many - if any - Villa supporters there.

The masked warriors will get their pics and vids with their SWP placards and then West Mids finest will move them on.

I think they know they won’t be very popular with majority of Villa supporters.

[Dave]

If it’s 6pm there won’t be many - if any - Villa supporters there

Presumably their plan is going to be to hang out for at least couple of hours until there are though. Obviously it's a free country and as long as they're peaceful then I hope they have a nice evening out.

I'd rather they were doing it somewhere else though. I'm guessing some of ours who don't share the same opinions will probably give them some feedback and it won't take much for Friday's social media to be all those awful twats from last week crowing about how right they were that even without the Maccabi thugs, Birmingham is still a lawless, anti-semitic, violent hell-hole.

[Percy McCarthy]

It is isn’t it. However, the news cycle has turned and it’s all Grooming gangs now, we are but a minor footnote in the 24 hr news channels race to the bottom.

One person who has been notable in their absence during this furore is the Mayor of the West Midlands. Has he come out of his bunker yet? Or did I miss his pronouncements and standing up for the citizens of the city region he represents and is supposed to be their voice.

He tweeted very much in support of the  government/tory/reform/libdem/Tommy Robinson position.

[andyh]

A pro Palestinian demonstration asking for an Israel to be kicked out of the competition is planned for 6pm on the night of the match at The Holte End.

I think this could get very messy, as Villa fans themselves are very divided on this issue, so it's a heads up to anyone who wants to either join or avoid.

I know the overall feeling on H&V is pro Palestine, but also that no one wants any trouble, so I make no judgements either way about what people want to do with this.

The stuff about 'masking' for your own safety in this release does ramp it up as I feel it will add a threatening appearance to the demo. I see they ask demonstrators not to bring children or vulnerable people, but obviously there will be children and vulnerable people amongst our support.

Statement:

ALL OUT AGAINST MACCABI TEL AVIV FC!

📆 November 6th 2025
🕖 6pm
📍Holte End entrance on Trinity Road, Birmingham, B6 6HE

While we witnessed a brutal genocide against the Palestinian people for the last two years, the authorities of UEFA and FIFA have refused to acknowledge their role in the crimes committed by the zionist state. This is why instead of being sanctioned, israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv is being welcomed to play against Aston Villa right here in Birmingham on November 6th.

Now more than ever we must rise together in protest against the upcoming Aston Villa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match and make it clear that neither Maccabi Tel Aviv FC nor its deranged fans are welcome in our city!

For your safety, masking is advised and we ask to avoid bringing any children or vulnerable people to the demonstration, as a precaution.

Trouble making wankers…..it’s as simple as that.
If Tommy Ten names and/or his mob turn up too then this has the potential to be nasty.

[Somniloquism]

He tweeted very much in support of the  government/tory/reform/libdem/Tommy Robinson position.

It doesn't read as major support on that specific side and is something I would have expected more from Starmer (or a competent PM) instead of the way he blundered into it.

Football is about bringing people together. Everyone who loves the game should have the chance to attend.

The first priority is the safety of individuals in and around Birmingham and Villa Park - that is paramount. Whilst I respect West Midlands Police, if the Government are willing to support in terms of resource then there should be a review of the decision that has been made.

Whilst I don’t oversee policing in the region, I want to work alongside Aston Villa, the Government, the Home Office, the Council and West Midlands Police to broker a solution that keeps the spirit of inclusive and accessible sport alive - whilst ensuring the safety of local people and visitors.

I’d like all parties to work together to find a workable solution that can be implemented.

[luke95]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

[andyh]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

[Chris Smith]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Not the biggest threat but it can only add to the tension and the potential for trouble which I guess is the reason they’re doing it. If it passes off quietly there is very little publicity, if it provokes a reaction they get what they want but it will not make an ounce of difference to public opinion or government policy on Gaza.

[andyh]

^^
Well obviously, we all know that.
But to say they were ‘always going to be the biggest threat for trouble’ is just wrong.

[luke95]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Do you really think the local pro Palestine supporters of Aston , Nechells, Alum Rock, Small Heath , Sparkhill/Sparkbrook were going to just stand on their doorstep & happyily wave at the MTA fans as they pass?
They were always going to turn up at Villa Park/Aston on the night, which would lead to inevitable trouble.

[Dave]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Do you really think the local pro Palestine supporters of Aston , Nechells, Alum Rock, Small Heath , Sparkhill/Sparkbrook were going to just stand on their doorstep & happyily wave at the MTA fans as they pass?
They were always going to turn up at Villa Park/Aston on the night, which would lead to inevitable trouble.

That doesn't make them the "biggest threat" though. There's definitely a threat and I still expect it'll kick off without the helpful excuse of the Maccabi thugs causing it.

But the biggest threat was definitely bringing a few hundred Maccabi into that environment. Leaving a big pile of dry wood in the sun on a hot day is a risk. Flicking matches at it is a much bigger risk.

[algy]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Do you really think the local pro Palestine supporters of Aston , Nechells, Alum Rock, Small Heath , Sparkhill/Sparkbrook were going to just stand on their doorstep & happyily wave at the MTA fans as they pass?
They were always going to turn up at Villa Park/Aston on the night, which would lead to inevitable trouble.

You'd have to be incredibly naïve to think otherwise IMO.  It would/will be a particularly volatile cocktail having 2 sets of people with strong political beliefs and a penchant for violent behaviour.

But yeah, as Dave says it's one thing knowing that you're going to have that regardless .... it's another thing inviting in the Maccabi thugs to turn a potentially volatile situation in to something where the question is how bad will it be and/or how long will it go on, rather than if WMP can successfully keep those groups away from Villa Park - and apart from eachother - whilst also policing a football match.

[WassallVillain]

I fear this match will end up being banned or moved on or before it gets to match day. The, imo correct, ban on MTA supporters was never going to be enough.   Sad times.

[luke95]

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Do you really think the local pro Palestine supporters of Aston , Nechells, Alum Rock, Small Heath , Sparkhill/Sparkbrook were going to just stand on their doorstep & happyily wave at the MTA fans as they pass?
They were always going to turn up at Villa Park/Aston on the night, which would lead to inevitable trouble.

That doesn't make them the "biggest threat" though. There's definitely a threat and I still expect it'll kick off without the helpful excuse of the Maccabi thugs causing it.

But the biggest threat was definitely bringing a few hundred Maccabi into that environment. Leaving a big pile of dry wood in the sun on a hot day is a risk. Flicking matches at it is a much bigger risk.

The pro Palestine protesters were always going to be the biggest threat for trouble this night .

Utter Bollocks

Do you really think the local pro Palestine supporters of Aston , Nechells, Alum Rock, Small Heath , Sparkhill/Sparkbrook were going to just stand on their doorstep & happyily wave at the MTA fans as they pass?
They were always going to turn up at Villa Park/Aston on the night, which would lead to inevitable trouble.

That doesn't make them the "biggest threat" though. There's definitely a threat and I still expect it'll kick off without the helpful excuse of the Maccabi thugs causing it.

But the biggest threat was definitely bringing a few hundred Maccabi into that environment. Leaving a big pile of dry wood in the sun on a hot day is a risk. Flicking matches at it is a much bigger risk.

The pro Palestine lot would've been the match throwers.   
The police would've handled a few hundred MTA fans as they did the Warsaw fans but they would struggled policing the pro Palestine lot (which could be any of 1000s who are around the ground on the night , including match go''ers)

Like you say MTA fans & their previous behaviour was a perfect excuse.