"[The decision] is just completely and utterly unacceptable, and the prime minister has said we will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue. It's an operational issue for the police, and government doesn't get involved in operational issues for the police. But I know the culture secretary of state will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there's a way through this."
"We can't be in a position as a country to determine whether people are able to go to public events like football matches, all sorts of festivals or other big public events on the basis of their race, religion or background. That is just the wrong decision to make, and the police need to look at how they can facilitate making sure this can happen."
"A report by Dutch police into the disorder during that match found Maccabi fans had torn a Palestinian flag down from a local building and burned it, shouted Fuck you, Palestine and vandalised a taxi. Maccabi fans were also taped chanting: Ole, ole. Let the IDF win, fuck the Arabs. After the match there were what"
Senior government officials will meet Friday to seek reversal of West Midlands police's ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters for a European match at Aston Villa. Ministers condemned the ban as unacceptable and pledged efforts to resolve the issue, with the culture secretary meeting Home Office officials and other stakeholders. The police classified the fixture as high risk based on intelligence and cited violence during a 2024 UEFA Europa League match in Amsterdam. A Dutch police report found Maccabi fans had torn down and burned a Palestinian flag, shouted 'Fuck you, Palestine,' vandalised a taxi, and were taped chanting pro‑IDF and abusive slogans.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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