The football fan, who has never missed a home game, said tonight was 'not worth the risk'
A lifelong Aston Villa fan will miss her first home game in 22 yearsView Image
An Aston Villa season ticket holder will miss her first game in decades and said tonight's controversial match against Maccabi Tel Aviv was 'not worth the risk'.
With more than 700 police officers and demonstrations planned, the fan, who asked to be identified as SJ, said she wished the game against the Israeli side was not going ahead.
The supporter, who attends matches with her husband and 86-year-old grandmother, said she would be 'scared' with up to five protests on both sides of the Israel-Palestine divide planned.
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She said she would 'never forgive' herself if something happened to her nan so had chosen not to attend, despite having already paid for a ticket.
SJ told BirminghamLive she narrowly avoided being caught up in trouble involving visiting Legia Warsaw supporters at previous Conference League game at Villa Park in November 2023.
She said: "I'm 34 and I've been a Villa fan since I was born. I have been a season ticket holder since I was 12 and now I take my husband and nan, who is 86.
"I have never missed a home game, cup game or European game, but I am unfortunately missing tonight's game. Although we have the European bundle tickets, we have chosen not to go.
"With everything going on and the planned protest, it's not worth the risk. My nan isn't very quick on her feet, and if something was to happen, I would never forgive myself.
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"At the Legia Warsaw game there were fireworks flying over our heads as we walked to our stand. Thankfully, the police pulled us to one side to make sure we were safe.
"I wish I wasn't scared to go but I am. You shouldn't be scared to go to a football game. You go to a football game to have fun; to enjoy it, but with everything going on and schools closing early, it's scary.
"I have a chronic illness and I'm not very quick myself. I really wish this game never went ahead, but whoever is going, please be safe."