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

[WassallVillain]

This whole thing could be manna from heaven for the ill informed numpties that threw their oars, and a lot more besides, in over the weekend. Even just having to take action to ban such an event will give them justification. A complete no win for the club, fans, area and the City. I feel sick.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I’ve always thought covering faces is because the far right film them and target those that are against them rather than anything else.

Possibly for some they are concerned about the way the Government is breaking its own legislation in directing police operations too?

Possibly also as the police have a poorer relationship with ethnic minorities which these protestors will over represent?

Possibly also to protect faces from substances being thrown or not to show gender as the far right will target anybody they perceive as physically weaker.

[dr.chekov]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

To prevent them being doxxed by the far right or identified by police.

Edit: As Mark says above.

[The Edge]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

Won't be easy to implement but we definitely need the authorities to ban all face coverings on the day/night of the game. It's the cowards way out throwing missiles and covering the face.

[Dave]

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.

It's a perfectly valid opinion that they shouldn't be in the competition - but the fact is that they are. And while I'm the last person you're going to hear saying "keep the politics out of football" for the Villa fans going to watch the game, it's fine for that couple of hours to be about us knocking four or more past Maccabi.

I'm quite comfortable for people to gather and show solidarity for their cause - but as others have said (and the police will probably enforce anyway), maybe do it somewhere other than Villa Park? There'll be no Maccabi fans around, so it's not like they're doing it for the benefit of anyone other Villa fans going to the game.

That gives the best chance of the whole thing passing without it turning into an international incident, risking harm to the reputation of the club and the city.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Across huge UK pro-Palestine/ anti racist marches, arrests have been tiny, mostly minor public-order or obstruction offences, not violence.  On Armistice Day, most clashes came from far-right counter-protesters, while later demos saw single-digit arrests despite crowds of hundreds of thousands.

Not sure what the atmosphere will be like with the high tensions around this game, ignited by Starmer and co. But generally the solidarity movement related to Palestine hasn’t attracted much in terms of violence.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

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.

It's a perfectly valid opinion that they shouldn't be in the competition - but the fact is that they are. I'm while I'm the last person you're going to hear saying "keep the politics out of football" for the Villa fans going to watch the game, it's fine for that couple of hours to be about us knocking four or more past Maccabi.

I'm quite comfortable for people to gather and show solidarity for their cause - but as others have said (and the police will probably enforce anyway), maybe do it somewhere other than Villa Park? There'll be no Maccabi fans around, so it's not like they're doing it for the benefit of anyone other Villa fans going to the game.

That gives the best chance of the whole thing passing without it turning into an international incident, risking harm to the reputation of the club and the city.

I think the nature of protest means they’ll want to be seen and heard rather than tucked away. And with an Israeli team in town, particularly one known for far right IDF alumni creds, now’s the chance.

[luke95]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

Because their intention is confrontation & to cause trouble ?

[Dave]

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.

It's a perfectly valid opinion that they shouldn't be in the competition - but the fact is that they are. I'm while I'm the last person you're going to hear saying "keep the politics out of football" for the Villa fans going to watch the game, it's fine for that couple of hours to be about us knocking four or more past Maccabi.

I'm quite comfortable for people to gather and show solidarity for their cause - but as others have said (and the police will probably enforce anyway), maybe do it somewhere other than Villa Park? There'll be no Maccabi fans around, so it's not like they're doing it for the benefit of anyone other Villa fans going to the game.

That gives the best chance of the whole thing passing without it turning into an international incident, risking harm to the reputation of the club and the city.

I think the nature of protest means they’ll want to be seen and heard rather than tucked away. And with an Israeli team in town, particularly one known for far right IDF alumni creds, now’s the chance.

Don't tuck them away at all. Loud and proud in Victoria Square. Get the eyes of the city on their protest.

Rather than getting into an inevitable condiment-lobbing competition with some tanked-up Villa fans who don't agree with what they're protesting.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Yeah maybe that’s the right move, not sure.

For some of them they might say, I live in Aston not Birmingham city centre I should be allowed to protest where I live. Or this is where the Israel team is that shouldn’t be allowed to play and I’m protesting that.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

Because their intention is confrontation & to cause trouble ?

For some, maybe. It’s not been my experience of antiracism or solidarity demos.

[PeterWithesShin]

So why the masks?

[luke95]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

Because their intention is confrontation & to cause trouble ?

For some, maybe. It’s not been my experience of antiracism or solidarity demos.

Some & there's always some.  On both sides !!

[markeeeebeeee2005]

See points above from me and dr chekov. Solidarity and anti racist demos don’t usually mean a mask. But for some protesting there’s a few things to be fearful of on this occasion.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I’m not sure why the pro Palastine protest organisers have urged attendees to mask up for their own safety.

Because their intention is confrontation & to cause trouble ?

For some, maybe. It’s not been my experience of antiracism or solidarity demos.

Some & there's always some.  On both sides !!

I guess when you say both sides you mean the far right. If so it’s not a good comparison.