MTA aren’t just a football club with a few hooligan fans. Many of their fans proudly represent an apartheid state that’s been committing genocide with arms and political cover from UK and US politicians, breaking both national and international law and making loads of money for the arms industry and the click merchants. The evil that was committed against Jewish people, particularly during the 2nd world war was always going to have future repercussions, that level of suffering doesn’t just evaporate. But what is being done to the Palestinians will not heal that.
Talking about hooligans and fixtures is a distraction. It’s the same energy as Tommy’s boot boys and Keir’s antisemitism slurs against those who protest complicity in genocide. It’s noise that purposefully pulls focus from the real issues.
MTA shouldn’t be in the competition. The double standards in treatments of Russian sports teams, who as bad they are not committing genocide, and teams from Israel, who are, is stark. All because the Israeli actions are licensed by Western complicity.
Bigger picture. This isn’t about football. It’s about international solidarity with the oppressed whether Muslim, Jew, Trekkies or something else.
Sh*t that Villa are wrapped up in it, but as we are, I think it’s right that people shown respect when they show solidarity with a decimated Palestinian population and all others who’ve suffered oppression and genocide over the years, even if you disagree.