Maccabi Tel Aviv football club banned

Allira

^The decision is based on concerns from West Midlands Police about its ability to deal with potential protests relating the war between Israel and Gaza.^

Sky News

I will post this yet again:

The decision is based on concerns from West Midlands Police about its ability to deal with potential protests relating the war between Israel and Gaza.

Sky News

The Europa League game between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv cited by the West Midlands Police took place on November 7, 2024.

Violent clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans erupted before the game which led to more than 60 arrests, four men being handed short prison sentences and another given a community service order.

Amsterdam police and prosecutors said "antisemitic" rioters "actively sought out" Israeli supporters to attack and assault them. Footage emerged online which showed fans pulling down a Palestinian flag in central Amsterdam and anti-Arab chants could be heard.

A report from the Amsterdam mayor's office said the violence stemmed from a "toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism and anger" about the war between Israel and Gaza and other conflicts in the Middle East.

Sky News

It is more than worries about football hooliganism

That's why they were banned in the first place. No other country has the problems that Israel brings with it.
Coupled with a violent fan base there was a public protection issue.
This is what has been said on here from the beginning. Read the thread before making accusations.

Yup.

I can’t make up my mind whether people really can’t see the much bigger issue

or whether it’s a deliberate smokescreen to try toprevent it being seen.

Lathyrus3

AGAA4

If the violent fans had been from any other country the government would not have got involved.

Well no, because there wouldn’t have been a political protest attached to the fans of any other country.

The political element that caused the Government to become involved came from the intentions of the Pro Palestine supporters to protest at the match. And then the call for counter protests.

That was what moved it from a footballer fan based decision.

That fact seems to have got lost with all the discussion about football hooliganism, Lathyrus.

The Tel Aviv Club has made a statement about not accepting tickets, if offered.

AGAA4

If the violent fans had been from any other country the government would not have got involved.

Well no, because there wouldn’t have been a political protest attached to the fans of any other country.

The political element that caused the Government to become involved came from the intentions of the Pro Palestine supporters to protest at the match. And then the call for counter protests.

That was what moved it from a footballer fan based decision.

fancythat

But the government ultimately run the Country.

And it was a complicated situation.

I think I can see all sides in this.
[though no side perfectly].

Well said fancythat.

Mollygo these are my thoughts. The government getting involved and with all the publicity there could still be disruption at this match.
I hope not for the sake of all involved on the day.

AGAA4

If the violent fans had been from any other country the government would not have got involved.

I think you’re right.

If the violent fans had been from any other country the government would not have got involved.

British fans have been turned away from matches abroad because of violence, without the need for political interference.

Following the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) banned all English clubs from European competitions for five years.

The latest rumour is that fans from the UK and Europe will not be allowed to travel to the USA because of online comments.

Re Maccabi Tel Aviv
A club statement said: "The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount, and from hard lessons learned we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.

Will Maccabi Tel Aviv making the decision not to accept ticket allocations for the safety of their fans as per their statement above, man there’ll be no violence at the match?
Will the players and their entourage be safe?

That remains to be seen.

But the government ultimately run the Country.

And it was a complicated situation.

I think I can see all sides in this.
[though no side perfectly].

Babs03

For the government to get involved is wrong. No two ways about it. This was a decision for the police and football authorities.
A precedence has now been established and it is not a good one.

Absolutely.

For the government to get involved is wrong. No two ways about it. This was a decision for the police and football authorities.
A precedence has now been established and it is not a good one.

Boz

I wouldn't take much notice of football chants; they are notoriously awful, fuelled by drink.
Villa have a reputation for fairly mild chants, but my OH and DS are both season ticket holders at Villa and say racist remarks fill the air aimed at the usual minorities but never Jews. People are removed and banned but there are always others to take their place.

I don’t think too much antisemitism (hopefully) would have come from Villa fans Boz it would be local residents and others from further afield who would gather outside the ground intent on trouble.They will be disappointed!

Yes Lathyrus3 I blame both sides, always.

Oreo

Lisa Nandy has gone right up in my estimation.It’s probably the right decision from maccabi to not take up ticket allocation for the safety of their fans from pro Palestinian trouble makers who aren’t even football fans, but leaves Villa Park, the West Midlands police the SAG and ultimately the UK with embarrassing amounts of egg on their faces.That we bow down to antisemitism.

Nandy should have checked out the facts first - as should those who approve of her.

Babs03

Lathyrus3

Surely it’s not one sided Babs?

Exposing the desire and incitement to violence where it exists is balanced, isn’t it?

Yes so can you now say that this is as much the fault of Maccabi fans who have shown a desire to incite violence as anyone else.

Oh yes both at fault.

No problem with saying that.

How about you?

Babs03

Lathyrus3

Surely it’s not one sided Babs?

Exposing the desire and incitement to violence where it exists is balanced, isn’t it?

Yes so can you now say that this is as much the fault of Maccabi fans who have shown a desire to incite violence as anyone else.

Yes, they have shown themselves up. Over the years, they're not the only team whose behaviour has been unacceptable, but there is no reason why they should be treated any differently.

Here are some British clubs who have been involved in matches, where teams were banned:

Leeds vs Galatasaray (2000) – Galatasaray fans banned after fatal stabbings in Istanbul

Rangers vs Napoli (2022) – no away fans at either leg due to safety/policing risk

Man Utd vs Galatasaray (2023) – ticket sales to Turkish addresses blocked

Millwall vs Ferencváros (2004) – away fans barred on police advice

West Ham vs Dinamo Zagreb (2021) – no public sale to visiting supporters after prior clashes

Chelsea vs Fenerbahçe (2008) – heavy away restrictions after first-leg crowd trouble

Liverpool vs Roma (2018) – partial fan travel ban after violence in first leg

Tottenham vs Ajax (2019) – limited away tickets after hooligan concerns flagged by police

Celtic vs Lazio (2019) – visiting fans banned by UEFA for violent and racist conduct

Rangers vs Slavia Prague (2021) – severe restrictions after prior racist and violent incidents

I don't remember anybody making the kind of fuss they are about Maccabi Tel Aviv. I certainly don't remember any government trying to overturn the police's judgement.

Maccabi fans shouting kill all Arabs and F*ck Palestine will cause violence too so glad they aren't coming.
People need to understand that the situation in Gaza has upset many around the world but I don't blame all Israelis and they should be able to join sporting events without being harassed. There were protesters at a cycling event in Spain that had to be stopped as the protesters were harassing the cyclists. This should not be allowed. Those cyclists were only there to race not to cause trouble as some of the Maccabi fans have done at several venues.

I think the main difference between the British football fan and the Israeli football fan is politics.

In Britain, football, is almost entirely divorced from politics, but in Israel, football and politics are totally intertwined, thus the visceral hatred of Arabs, the foul racist rhetoric aimed at players, and the far right fascist politics that come with a hard core group of the fans, is why this is so toxic.

What is most alarming for me is that Robinson and his followers would be undoubtedly at the match egging them on in spirit if not in body, claiming patriotism whilst fighting out police.

Lisa Nandy has gone right up in my estimation.It’s probably the right decision from maccabi to not take up ticket allocation for the safety of their fans from pro Palestinian trouble makers who aren’t even football fans, but leaves Villa Park, the West Midlands police the SAG and ultimately the UK with embarrassing amounts of egg on their faces.That we bow down to antisemitism.

I wouldn't take much notice of football chants; they are notoriously awful, fuelled by drink.
Villa have a reputation for fairly mild chants, but my OH and DS are both season ticket holders at Villa and say racist remarks fill the air aimed at the usual minorities but never Jews. People are removed and banned but there are always others to take their place.

Lathyrus3

Surely it’s not one sided Babs?

Exposing the desire and incitement to violence where it exists is balanced, isn’t it?

Yes so can you now say that this is as much the fault of Maccabi fans who have shown a desire to incite violence as anyone else.

That reply was to Lathyrus3