Maccabi Tel Aviv football club banned

Here is his response to the ban

And now BBC has just reported that Downing Street is working hard to reverse the ban.

The ‘community’s concerns’ ? Which community I wonder

Maremia

And now BBC has just reported that Downing Street is working hard to reverse the ban.

And so they should.

I really feel for the football club. They truly are between a rock and a hard place. They do not want anyone hurt, but do not want to be anti-semitic or curb freedoms.

I am glad I am not having to make these decisions.

Banning them feels wrong in principle; but so does putting the crowd (often young people and children at any risk.

If Aston Villa feel the need to wholesale ban the visiting team's supporters because they cannot assure their safety then they should forfeit the match. Or play behind closed doors with no supporters present at all.

Unfortunately any sporting events where Israel is attending will be fraught with problems. I don't believe that it is all antisemitism but an abhorrence of what Israel has done to Gaza.
I'm not condoning blaming all Israelis for this as many don't like the way their government has been acting either. To blame a whole country for the actions of its government is beyond comprehension.

Football is a funny game. It brings great joy to many and gets young people out exercising.
But it is at heart quite an aggressive game and we all know how it generates aggression off the pitch. It creates tribal divisions at the best of times.
Add in the highly sensitive political scenario at the moment and is us a very scary and volatile mix.
Add in alcohol .......
I really feel for those tasked with the safety of the crowds both inside and outside the stadium. It is a heavy responsibility.
They will be criticised whatever they decide.

Rosie51

If Aston Villa feel the need to wholesale ban the visiting team's supporters because they cannot assure their safety then they should forfeit the match. Or play behind closed doors with no supporters present at all.

That was my first thought, too. But then it dawned on me that there would still be protests outside the stadium.

My post at 11.59 described how a club handled what could have been a violent clash. It could work and may be the only way without banning.

Simplest solution if the police do not have the manpower to deal with this problem (apart from recruiting more police) is to ban BOTH sets of fans and have the game played in an empty stadium. That is equally fair to both sides.

As it is, banning one side only, wen they will not be the trouble makers looks like antisemitism.

M0nica why ban Aston Villa fans from their home ground?

I think The Prince of Wales would be rather pieved, he is an ardent Villa fan.

GrannyGravy13

M0nica why ban Aston Villa fans from their home ground?

I think The Prince of Wales would be rather pieved, he is an ardent Villa fan.

Well, what fair to all solution are you suggesting in its place?

Why ban Aston Villa fans from their ground? Why ban the Haifa(?) supporters from watching their team play? Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

That's a plan, yes. But it won't stop any disturbances outside the stadium.

Oreo. Community concerns may mean people in the nearby streets.
Villa Park is in Aston, a pretty rundown area, on a street with houses nearby.

M0nica

GrannyGravy13

M0nica why ban Aston Villa fans from their home ground?

I think The Prince of Wales would be rather pieved, he is an ardent Villa fan.

Well, what fair to all solution are you suggesting in its place?

Why ban Aston Villa fans from their ground? Why ban the Haifa(?) supporters from watching their team play? Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

My point which you obviously missed is that the Aston Villa fans have not done anything to warrant not being able to watch their team at their home ground.

Maccaba Tel Aviv fans are being banned due to being Israeli.

I don't think they are being banned because they are Israeli. They are being band for fear of violence.

Even if no fans come over, there will need to be a massive security operation because the likelihood of the team and those associated with it like trainers etc being attacked is more than a probability.Both on the pitch and off it. The tightest of security for hotels and transport.

A massive demonstration outside the ground too.

I hope those in government are considering all the implications of what this one event has brought to the fore and that the police are not thrown to the wolves in policing something that is not possible for them.

Do you not think their actions in Holland, Norway and Italy might have some bearing on the suggested and probably soon to be revoked ban?

Yes OP, in my view, yours, as referenced,
is the best of all proposals so far.
And as the ban will most likely be revoked, it could be what happens.

If the ban is revoked, can you just imagine the amount of people travelling to the ground from all over? That's very frightening.

Maremia

Do you not think their actions in Holland, Norway and Italy might have some bearing on the suggested and probably soon to be revoked ban?

There was trouble in Athens, too, in 2024

footballgroundguide.com/news/fight-breaks-out-in-athens-after-political-views-are-voiced.html

I hope our nephews don't go whatever the decision but I fear they will.

Didn't know about Athens.

Will they go in a group Kate, with lots of friends?
Very possibly, after all of the banning, the visitors will be out to prove how well they can behave.
Hope so.