Infamously violent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been banned from attending a Europa League game against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month. The decision was made by West Midlands police, who classified the game as high risk, leading to uproar from Keir Starmer, who deemed the ban antisemitic.
The decision was based on unpublished intelligence that the biggest threat of violence came from extremist Maccabi fans. Ultimately, the West Midlands Police felt insufficient to manage the violence, making the ban the safest option for everybody. Despite this, the Home Office has offered funding for extra policing, costing at least £6million.
Yet, this does not consider local costs. Think about the local away-fan pub hiring extra security and fearing property damage. Or the fear that deciding not to open to away fans — a decision many businesses located near football stadiums make — could, by this rhetoric, deem them antisemitic. This becomes even more problematic given the support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson for both Israel and Maccabi Tel Aviv, claiming he will attend the game.
Football fans being banned due to safety concerns is not an uncommon occurrence — Scots know this all too well, with Celtic and Rangers banning each other’s fans for the whole 23/24 premiership. By Starmer’s narrative, does this by default make Police Scotland, supporting the clubs’ decisions, anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant?
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have a disreputable history of inciting violence, making headlines in November last year while at an away fixture in Amsterdam. Antisemitic attacks occurred, which should of course be condemned; however, many of the initial instances of violence were committed by Maccabi fans, including vandalising a taxi, attacking Dutch Muslims, and outright rioting.
Whilst the ban has not been justified based on the Israeli genocide, this must be considered given Maccabi chants, including “Let the IDF win, fuck the Arabs,” and “Why is there no school in Gaza today? Because there are no children left.” Such hate speech is far from welcome in the multicultural city of Birmingham, with a 29.9 per cent Muslim population, and a very active Palestine Solidarity movement.
Since the announcement was made, Israeli police had to cancel a derby game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv due to “threats to life.” Within Starmer’s claims, does this also make the Israeli Police antisemitic for banning Jewish fans from attending football games? This begs the question: if Israeli police cannot control their own citizens, why should they be allowed to put other police forces under pressure?
Of course, the backdrop of rising antisemitism in the UK is greatly concerning. But we must also recognise that accusations of antisemitism, from politicians like Starmer, can sometimes reinforce the antisemitic sentiments that they aim to reject.
By arguing that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are being banned because they are Jewish creates a dangerous conflation when they carry out acts of violence, that all Jewish people are violent. Ultimately, the British Government is utilising the fear of marginalised Jewish communities to defend their own investments in Israel — two things that should very much be separated.
“The Trinity Road stand at Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club” by Ben Sutherland is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Related
Between safety and politics: the Maccabi Tel Aviv ban and accusations of antisemitism
Infamously violent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been banned from attending a Europa League game against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month. The decision was made by West Midlands police, who classified the game as high risk, leading to uproar from Keir Starmer, who deemed the ban antisemitic.
The decision was based on unpublished intelligence that the biggest threat of violence came from extremist Maccabi fans. Ultimately, the West Midlands Police felt insufficient to manage the violence, making the ban the safest option for everybody. Despite this, the Home Office has offered funding for extra policing, costing at least £6million.
Yet, this does not consider local costs. Think about the local away-fan pub hiring extra security and fearing property damage. Or the fear that deciding not to open to away fans — a decision many businesses located near football stadiums make — could, by this rhetoric, deem them antisemitic. This becomes even more problematic given the support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson for both Israel and Maccabi Tel Aviv, claiming he will attend the game.
Football fans being banned due to safety concerns is not an uncommon occurrence — Scots know this all too well, with Celtic and Rangers banning each other’s fans for the whole 23/24 premiership. By Starmer’s narrative, does this by default make Police Scotland, supporting the clubs’ decisions, anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant?
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have a disreputable history of inciting violence, making headlines in November last year while at an away fixture in Amsterdam. Antisemitic attacks occurred, which should of course be condemned; however, many of the initial instances of violence were committed by Maccabi fans, including vandalising a taxi, attacking Dutch Muslims, and outright rioting.
Whilst the ban has not been justified based on the Israeli genocide, this must be considered given Maccabi chants, including “Let the IDF win, fuck the Arabs,” and “Why is there no school in Gaza today? Because there are no children left.” Such hate speech is far from welcome in the multicultural city of Birmingham, with a 29.9 per cent Muslim population, and a very active Palestine Solidarity movement.
Since the announcement was made, Israeli police had to cancel a derby game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv due to “threats to life.” Within Starmer’s claims, does this also make the Israeli Police antisemitic for banning Jewish fans from attending football games? This begs the question: if Israeli police cannot control their own citizens, why should they be allowed to put other police forces under pressure?
Of course, the backdrop of rising antisemitism in the UK is greatly concerning. But we must also recognise that accusations of antisemitism, from politicians like Starmer, can sometimes reinforce the antisemitic sentiments that they aim to reject.
By arguing that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are being banned because they are Jewish creates a dangerous conflation when they carry out acts of violence, that all Jewish people are violent. Ultimately, the British Government is utilising the fear of marginalised Jewish communities to defend their own investments in Israel — two things that should very much be separated.
“The Trinity Road stand at Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club” by Ben Sutherland is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Share this:
Like this:
Related