Mark Perryman defends the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa Park
At ‘best’ this from Sir Keir is ill-informed, at worst it is naked and dangerous opportunism.
Ill-informed: as a former Director of Public Prosecutions I would have thought our Prime Minister might know banning away fans because of the risk of public disorder isn’t in the least unusual.
Dangerous opportunism: as an Arsenal fan Sir Keir is more familiar with the North London derby match, but as a football fan he is presumably aware of the Celtic v Rangers derby. When Celtic and Rangers fans are banned from travelling to the away fixture is it because they’re Catholic or Protestant? No, of course not, again it’s because of the risk of public disorder. Likewise Maccabi Tel Aviv fans haven’t been banned from their club’s Champions League match away against Aston Villa because they are Jewish, it’s because of the risk of public disorder.
And what might that risk be? Because many, football fans or not, cannot countenance the fact that while Russia was instantly banned from all UEFA competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel committing a genocide on Gaza has not. Protests outside Villa Park have been taking place against the game, entirely peacefully. There would have been protests on the night of the game, against Israel’s genocide, not against Jews. Again, a former DPP should know the difference.
But also, once more as a football fan, Sir Keir might be expected to know at least something about Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans. They are notorious in Israel for their racism towards Arab players and clubs, in the Israeli League. This would be akin to Arsenal fans taunting Spurs as a so-called ‘Jewish’ club, not because of a long-standing North London football rivalry. An analogy Sir Keir the gooner would surely understand, and actions he’d condemn.
And Maccabi fans export all of this, mixing their racism and hooliganism. Most recently in Amsterdam just a year ago for their November 2024 Europa League game against Ajax. Widely reported but Sir Keir once again seems to have missed all of this. Funny that, I thought he was a football fan?
No fan likes to see away supporters banned. The rivalry inside the stadium is part of what makes being there so special. But sometimes bans are imposed for public safety reasons. That’s the reason for this ban, not antisemitism. Sir Keir should take down his tweet and apologise – but I won’t be holding my breath.
