Starmer’s Government unable, or unwilling, to protect visiting fans – if they are Israeli.
BARRY SHAW | Nov 06, 2025
Maccabi Tel Aviv practicing. Screengrab via Youtube. [Cropped]
Tonight Aston Villa are hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv in their home game in the UEFA Europa League.
Kick off is at 8 pm UK time.
This after massive threats of violence against Maccabi supporters by Birmingham barbarians.
Rather than enlarge their police force to protect visiting Maccabi fans, the Starmer Government placed a ban on Israeli supporters attending the game – for their own safety and security.
Imagine the atmosphere inside that stadium tonight and the intimidation against the Maccabi players.
I advocated from Day One that UEFA either move the game to a neutral location in Europe and play the game without spectators, or hand a victory to Maccabi Tel Aviv as a future warning to Britain that EUFA will not tolerate any country that is unable to offer security to visiting teams and their supporters attending away games.
After all, if UEFA sent Israeli teams to play home games in Europe surely they should stick to the game principle in mobs in Birmingham threaten a turf war against visiting Maccabi fans coming to their town, particularly with the admission of the British Government and the West Midlands police admitting they are unable to keep the peace.
The Aston Villa club is innocent of all involvement in the threatening atmosphere surrounding this game.
I am sure they will receive the Maccabi players and officials with every courtesy.
The background:
Last month, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from attending Thursday’s Europa League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park due to safety concerns, which drew immediate criticism from politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who said that he and his Muslim Home Secretary would do everything possible to ensure the safety of the visiting Maccabi supporters.
That everything was nothing!
Out of fear for the safety of their supporters, Maccabi Tel Aviv management announced they would not sell tickets to their fans for the match as they had no way to protect them in the away game.
A statement from a UK Government spokesperson in response to Maccabi’s decision to deny the sale of tickets to fans said they were “deeply saddened” by the decision.
Like hell they were!
Maccabi Tel Aviv wants UEFA and the British Government and public to know that, “Our first-team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide. We have also been working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base.
“It is clear that various entrenched groups seek to malign the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base, most of whom have no truck with racism or hooliganism of any kind, and are exploiting isolated incidents for their own social and political ends.
“As a result of the hate-filled falsehoods, a toxic atmosphere has been created (in Britain) which makes the safety of our fans wishing to attend very much in doubt.”
Violent pro-Palestinian demonstrators instigated organized attacks against visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before the game against Ajax in Amsterdam a year ago.
Amsterdam police and prosecutors said “antisemitic” rioters “actively sought out” Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.
The atmosphere is tense, even fearful ahead of tonight’s game.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign group are planning demonstrations even before kick off this evening.
Even Villa fans are saying they don’t feel safe with this level of intimidation around the game.
It is hoped that the police and ground security will bodycheck everyone physically before allowing them into the ground.
The Tel Aviv players must be anticipating a poisonous atmosphere both outside and inside the ground tonight.
It remains to be seen what security arrangements will be made in Israel for the return game in Tel Aviv. The war is almost over and UEFA should allow Israeli teams to host their rivals in Israel and not in Europe as they have been forced to do until now.
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