Keir Starmer Won't Tolerate Racist Hooligans Being Barred From Aston Villa's Stadium | Defector

"Aston Villa will be hosting Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League match in Birmingham on Nov. 6. Last week, The Athletic reported that the West Midlands Police had requested that Maccabi fans be barred from the stadium and prevented from buying tickets to the match. The police, in consultation with Aston Villa and the city's Safety Advisory Group, requested that UEFA withhold approval of the standard allotment of tickets that would normally be made available to away fans,"

"The decision to keep Maccabi fans out of Birmingham is fully justified, and not out of step with how other European club competitions have been run in the past. It is not uncommon for away fans to be banned from matches based on previous instances of violent conduct, or the potential for future clashes between supporters. The city of Birmingham's concerns about what might happen if Maccabi fans descend on Villa Park are well-founded: Birmingham has a high Muslim population;"

"None of those facts were enough to stop UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer from calling Birmingham's decision an act of antisemitism. "This is the wrong decision," Starmer said in a statement on Twitter. "We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation." Another Labour MP, Lord Ian Austin, is now making noise about whether Villa Park is capable of being a host venue"

Aston Villa will host Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League match in Birmingham on Nov. 6, and West Midlands Police asked UEFA to withhold the usual away ticket allocation for Maccabi supporters citing physical and safety factors. Authorities referenced past violent and racist conduct by some Maccabi fans in Amsterdam and concerns about potential clashes in a city with a large Muslim population. Officials described the decision as justified to prevent violence and intimidation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the decision antisemitic and criticized police action, while Labour MP Lord Ian Austin questioned Villa Park's suitability as a venue.

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