I’m a Villa supporter.
Last weekend’s national furore concerning Villa’s proposed match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, must have divided opinion up and down the country (it certainly did in 10Downing Street).
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The row is predicated around the fact that Villa Park sits in a predominantly Pakistani/Bangladeshi community, and that the presence of Israeli supporters is likely to fuse civil raucous and communal tensions.
In addition, local leaders and politicians argue that sports and politics are not exclusive, but intermingling entities. They feel that Villa’s mere playing with MTA is the club’s implicit endorsement of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Coupled with their concerns that the MTA fans’ jeering and anti-social behaviour will incite anger, violence, and retaliation of sorts, it is understandable that the Safety Advisory Group – along with the police – should suggest that the club applies a preemptive ban on MTA supporters.
But Birmingham authorities have gone a step further by banning MTA supporters not only from the stadium but from the local area as well.
People in favour of the ban justify their stance by asking, haven’t British fans in the past been banned from European competitions because of their (then) violent nature and/or reputation? If so, why can’t authorities ban MTA on similar grounds?
It could be argued that all football clubs come with a faction of, let’s say, undesirable supporters who are likely to get drunk and cause some disruption irrespective of where they are.
That’s just a simple fact of football
.But in the 1980s/90s British teams were banned in Europe by individual clubs and football organisations, not local authorities.
Some Jewish critics have put the case that law-abiding MTA fans should be allowed to support their team – that the decision to ban everyone is nothing but antisemitic.
They say that British authorities are cowing to the pressure put on them by a certain religious group. It’s a group that – again in their view – displays more concern for foreign issues than its alliance with British culture and values. 'Can the authorities not pinpoint troublemakers and criminal individuals and just ban them instead?' they ask.
And is it really fair, they argue, that certain councillors and MPs can dictate who can or can’t attend football matches whilst cajoling local authorities like Security Advisory Group to align with their decision?
They may have a point.
Even our government want to overthrow the ban, but the great and the good in Birmingham have their own agenda whether they have a persuasive argument or not.
Moreover, given the constant chanting of ‘death to Israel’ at Palestine protests in London and other cities, isn’t that in itself a significant threat to Jewish people?
Doesn’t that cause them undue stress and alarm? How is that not fuelling communal tensions?
So why doesn’t that concern the police or security forces?
It seems there’s a relaxed approach to people shouting abuse and threats at protests but a strict approach to people who might pose a threat at a football match.
Of course, it is wrong to tarnish every minority group with the same brush. That’s why we don’t say that all Muslims are potential terrorists or groomers because they’re not. The words and actions of deluded individuals don’t reflect their community nor are they speaking for their religion.
Similarly, football fans are not a homogeneous group. Let’s not generalise. Not all fans are the same and that includes MTA supporters.
I would, therefore, implore readers not to tarnish everyone with the same brush. In fact, I would strongly urge the authorities to reverse their decision on the ban and allow MTA supporters to visit our second city and enjoy the match. And, as I said, I’m a Villa supporter so it would – in actual fact – be to our advantage if MTA supporters were banned, but it wouldn’t be in the spirit of good sportsmanship.