In a dramatic turn of events, Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv has opted not to sell tickets to its supporters for the upcoming match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on November 6. This decision follows a contentious ban imposed by West Midlands Police, which British government ministers labeled as antisemitic and vowed to overturn. The situation escalated when Israeli police canceled a local derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, citing ‘public disorder and violent riots.’
According to Jewish News, the club’s decision was heavily influenced by the involvement of Tommy Robinson, a controversial pro-Israel activist and convicted criminal. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, urged his followers to protest against ‘Islamist activists’ at the match and posted a photo of himself in a Maccabi Tel Aviv shirt. His presence in Israel, at the invitation of Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, has further complicated the situation.
A source within the club revealed that the risk posed by anti-Israel protesters was significant, but the intervention of Robinson added another layer of danger. The club feared that their supporters could be wrongly associated with Robinson’s far-right activities, making the situation untenable for innocent fans.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans have a history of causing violence and disruption in European cities. In November, Amsterdam City Council banned the club from the Dutch capital after their fans caused chaos before and after a Europa League match against Ajax. Initially, Western media and politicians were sympathetic to the Maccabi fans, even describing the counterviolence as a pogrom. However, when footage and local reports contradicted this narrative, the focus on the events diminished.
In an official statement, Maccabi Tel Aviv expressed concern over ‘divisive figures’ who do not represent the club’s values and accused various groups of exploiting isolated incidents for their own agendas. A UK government spokesperson emphasized the importance of allowing football fans to enjoy games without fear of intimidation or violence, while condemning the weaponization of the match to stoke division.
In the UK Parliament, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy criticized the police ban, claiming it ‘chooses exclusion’ of Jews. However, it was revealed that West Midlands Police had previously banned fans of Legia Warsaw from attending a match due to violent behavior. The police classified the Maccabi Tel Aviv match as high risk based on ‘current intelligence and previous incidents,’ including violent clashes during the Ajax match in Amsterdam.
Before the Amsterdam match, Maccabi supporters were filmed arming themselves with weapons and chanting racist slogans, further exacerbating tensions. The violent incidents that followed the game highlighted the ongoing challenges of managing fan behavior in high-stakes matches.