Standing with Maccabi's football hooligans against local police is that what patriotism looks like now? | Jonathan Liew

"If social media posts are anything to go by, Tommy Robinson is planning to visit Villa Park next month as a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan. What can possibly have attracted the Luton-born political activist to the Israeli Premier League's second-placed club? The stylish all-action midfield play of Dor Peretz? The stirring run to the group stages of the 2004-05 Champions League? Perhaps, in the fashion of the club's former manager Robbie Keane, Robinson's embrace is simply the fulfilment of a cherished and multifaceted boyhood dream."

"Like Robinson, Maccabi attracts a fervid following of young men from the far right, who gather at weekends to chant racist and anti-Arab slogans. Like Robinson's disciples, Maccabi's fans have occasionally been known to indulge in a little light violence. A decade ago Maccabi fans unveiled a banner reading refugees (not) welcome, a refrain with which you can imagine the artist formerly known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon nodding heartily along."

"Then there was Maharan Radi, the Israeli international midfielder who after signing for the team was greeted with racist slurs and death threats by members of the Maccabi Fanatics, the club's ultra group. Anti-Arab graffiti began to appear in the city. Later, many years after leaving the club, Radi would testify that some of his teammates had tried to mediate with some of the more hard-line supporters. A few days later, Radi said, they reported back. There's nothing we can do, they told him. They just hate Arabs."

Tommy Robinson plans to attend Villa Park as a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, prompting questions about the attraction. Maccabi draws a fervid following of far-right young men who chant racist and anti-Arab slogans and have at times engaged in violence. Fans once unveiled a banner reading "refugees (not) welcome." Israeli international Maharan Radi received racist slurs and death threats from the Maccabi Fanatics, and teammates reported that hard-line supporters "just hate Arabs." West Midlands police banned travelling Maccabi fans from the Europa League game amid security and political concerns.

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