Wake me up when it's over

[PeterWithesShin]

I can't help but think that someone that was press secretary for the Israeli embassy is only ever going to see one side of the story and think everyone else is the baddie.

[AV82EC]

You posted since then, begging for tickets. But you never tell lies.

I think a lot of this is just bitterness and an old man shouting at the clouds. Yes - in the olden days, if something happened at Villa, the world and its wife wanted to hear your thoughts.
Now nobody cares what any of us think. The club is global, no one person can just call the CEO and have a chat like the old days, and organisations like ours proliferate in a DEI friendly era. Everyone has a say through social media and phone ins. But nobody’s say means anything.
Your access to the big dogs and owners has presumably gone, as fanzines and forums in 2025 are sadly as relevant as the Boer War.
But yeah, blame Jews innit. Bloody Jewish Villans causing all these problems.
Over and out

How to make friends and influence people. <rolls eyes emoticon>

[Percy McCarthy]

I can't help but think that someone that was press secretary for the Israeli embassy is only ever going to see one side of the story and think everyone else is the baddie.

Israeli PR is terrible. The spokesmen and women I’ve seen sticking up for them on the news come across as unhinged sociopaths.

That said, it must be difficult.

[Stu]

Edited to include the quote.

And that the police statement did not refer to any trouble they would be instigating, only their safety. So I’m not saying that, the police are.

I've read it twice now, and don't see where it says that. It does clearly say though that it's because of what happened at a previous Maccabi match.

West Midlands Police has a strong track record of successfully policing football matches and other high-risk public events.

We are committed to delivering fair and impartial policing, while balancing the public’s right to protest with our duty to ensure public safety.

Following a thorough assessment, we have classified the upcoming Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv fixture as high risk.

We have actively engaged with a wide range of local partners and community representatives in preparation for this fixture, and continue to participate in the Safety Advisory Group.

While the Safety Certificate is issued by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police supports the decision to prohibit away supporters from attending.

This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Amsterdam.

Based on our professional judgement, we believe this measure will help mitigate risks to public safety.

We remain steadfast in our support all affected communities, and reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in all its forms.

The second paragraph is key. ‘Balance the right to protest with public safety’. Who will be protesting. So whose safety is at risk?
When the same phrase was used to ban the UKIP or whatever they’re called march in Tower Hamlets tomorrow, whose safety was at risk. It wasn’t the marchers.

You might want to have a little think about the answer to the question you posed at the end there.

I noticed that too, but I think Eliot means the game would have had pro-Palestine/anti-Israel protests and the Maccabi fans would be the ones needing protection from them.

Another thing, and I’ve said it before a couple of times before but to address the difference between London clubs or Man City and Leeds re Jewish fan groups might be because there is a very tiny Jewish community in Brum. London, Manchester and Leeds all have much larger Jewish communities. Yeah, not all of the members need to be brummies, I accept that, but I wonder if it might also be a factor. This also means they’re a very vulnerable group, obviously.

[dave.woodhall]

You posted since then, begging for tickets. But you never tell lies.

I think a lot of this is just bitterness and an old man shouting at the clouds. Yes - in the olden days, if something happened at Villa, the world and its wife wanted to hear your thoughts.
Now nobody cares what any of us think. The club is global, no one person can just call the CEO and have a chat like the old days, and organisations like ours proliferate in a DEI friendly era. Everyone has a say through social media and phone ins. But nobody’s say means anything.
Your access to the big dogs and owners has presumably gone, as fanzines and forums in 2025 are sadly as relevant as the Boer War.
But yeah, blame Jews innit. Bloody Jewish Villans causing all these problems.
Over and out

How to make friends and influence people. <rolls eyes emoticon>

It certainly put me in my place.