Show Israel the Red Card
Maccabi Tel-Aviv is scheduled to play a football match at the Aston Villa Ground. The team has a wide following across Israel. Many of its fans openly support the genocide in Gaza and chant extremely racist
slogans directed at Palestinians. The chant includes “Death to Arabs”.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv is one of the Israeli teams that have already been banned from playing in Amsterdam because of the violent disorder they created when they played the Dutch team in the city.
Birmingham is perhaps one of the most cosmopolitan cities in
Europe. Maccabi Tel-Aviv will have a very negative impact on the cohesiveness
that exists between communities in the city.
We fear that a group of racist fans could have a very
negative impact on the city. Aston Villa has a very inclusive fan base, and its
matches are played in a very jovial and comradely atmosphere. Racist chants
within our city would not be received well.
We, the concerned citizens of Birmingham therefore urge all those with authority, the City Council, Aston Villa Football ground and the team to take appropriate action to prevent the mayhem that the Maccabi Tel-Aviv
fans created in Amsterdam in November 2024.