Tommy Robinson outlining his intention to attend next month’sEuropa Leaguegame between MaccabiTel AvivandAston Villaprompted the Israeli club’s ticketing U-turn.
Maccabi announced on Monday evening they woulddecline any away ticketsfor the November 6 clash at Villa Park after the UK Government had said it was ‘working around the clock’ to ensure fans from both sides could attend.
In a statement, Maccabi claimed they had taken the regrettable decision ‘as a result of the hate-filled falsehoods’ which had created ‘a toxic atmosphere’ around the upcoming match.
Robinson, who has been visitingIsraelhaving been invited by politician Amichai Chikli, appeared to fan the flames last week when he donned Maccabi’s colours and suggested he was ready to attend the game as a fan.
That declaration and the potential ramifications of Robinson’s presence, however, appears to have been the final straw for Maccabi.
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A source told Jewish News: ‘The risk posed by anti-Israel protesters was substantial, but we thought we had a plan to prevent them from prevailing. But that changed with the intervention of Tommy Robinson.
‘There was now also danger that our supporters could be falsely associated with his far-right activities, in front of anti-Israel protestors already out to get them.
‘With Robinson’s supporters potentially posing as Maccabi fans on the streets ofBirmingham, we concluded that the risk had become unacceptable for innocent fans who just want to watch their team play.’
Villa, meanwhile, have warned their fans against displaying political symbols, messages or flags when the highly politicised match eventually rolls around.
The Midlands club have been thrown into the eye of the storm after Birmingham’s safety advisory group, the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, last week said thatno away fans would be allowed to attend.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer then weighed in, calling the move ‘wrong’ and for it to be overturned.
The Government had been expecting West Midlands Police to set out this week what they would need to police the game safely with both sets of fans present.
TheIsraeli sidesaid in a statement on Monday evening that it had decided not to accept any tickets for the match for its fans.
The club said: ‘The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context.
‘We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.’
