Is it wrong to ban Israeli fans from Aston Villa game because of protests by pro-Gaza supporters? VOTE NOW
A BACKLASH is growing after Israeli fans were banned from an upcoming Aston Villa game because it’s a “high security risk”.
The Europa League match in Birmingham on November 6 comes as Israeli fans are targeted by protests whenever they play away from home.
Pro-Palestine protests erupted outside the national side’s match against Italy on Tuesday and Tel Aviv fans were attacked in a ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam last year.
Only home Aston Villa fans will now be at the fixture after West Midlands Police urged Birmingham council’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) against approving the allocation of seats that away fans would normally have.
SAG is responsible for providing safety certificates for matches and have told Villa one will not be granted for the fixture – leaving Tel Aviv fans in the cold.
Birmingham council said “a collective decision” was then made to restrict Maccabi fans’ attendance.
Senior government officials are set to meet later today to try to reverse the ban, according to the BBC.
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