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Sir keir starmer Is condemned a decision to ban supporters of israeli’s From his team’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv Aston Villa As in “wrong decision”.
Joined the Prime Minister’s call Birmingham City Council’s security advisory group and West Midlands Police reversed the decision and allowed Maccabi fans to attend the game.
step towards shoo away maccabi supporters By participating in Europa League games Villa Park Made on Thursday, November 6 amid public safety fears.
Violent clash between pro-Palestine protesters Israel Last year, fans went wild during a Europa League match between Dutch club Ajax and Maccabi in Amsterdam.
Five people were given prison terms and more than 60 were detained over the riots, which led to accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks.
But Sir Keir criticized the decision, calling it a “wrong decision” in a post on Twitter.
He said: “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets.
“The role of the police is to ensure everyone football fan Can enjoy the game without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group – the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for each match Villa Park – Villa were informed that no outside fans would be allowed to attend next month’s event.
The move was condemned by Jewish political leaders. It was also called a “national disgrace” and a “shameful decision” by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
On
“Will he back up those words with action and guarantee that Jewish fans can enter any football stadium in this country?
“If not, it sends a terrible and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot move.”
The Jewish Leadership Council criticized the decision not to allow Maccabi supporters to attend the Villa game, saying: “It is perverse that away fans should be banned from a football match because West Midlands Police cannot guarantee their safety.
,Aston Villa “There must be consequences for this decision and the match must be played behind closed doors.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “A grave mistake by the WM police. You cannot deal with anti-Semitism by banning its victims. This decision must be reversed.”
Reform Britain leader Nigel Farage said the move “takes racial discrimination to a new level”, while Danny Kruger, an MP from his party, said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood should consider sacking the chief constable responsible.
Baroness louisiana bergerA former Labor MP, who left the party in 2019 amid an anti-Semitism scandal before rejoining in 2023, said: “This is a shameful decision.
“If West Midlands Police and Birmingham Council cannot guarantee security for this 1st match then the city’s ability to host upcoming major international events must be reviewed.”
West Midlands Police said they have classified Aston Villa v The Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture has been rated as high risk based on “current intelligence and past incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime crimes that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.
Ayub Khan, the pro-Gaza independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, welcomed the decision.
He said: “It became clear as soon as the match was announced that there were hidden security risks which even our competent security and police officers would not be able to fully manage.
“With so much hostility and uncertainty around the match, it was right to take drastic action.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign had called for the match to be canceled on X, saying: “Israeli football teams should not play in international tournaments because they commit genocide and apartheid.”