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Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has asserted that resources will not be the deciding factor in determining whether Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans will be allowed to attend a match in Birmingham next month. The city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) recently declared that away fans would not be permitted to attend the Uefa Europa League fixture against Aston Villa on November 6 due to safety concerns. Nandy criticized the decision, stating that it was not within the government’s purview to evaluate the risks associated with the football match but assured that efforts were being made to fund the necessary policing measures.
In response to the situation, Nigel Huddlestone, the Conservative shadow, condemned the ban as “embarrassing and a disgrace.” Birmingham City Council revealed that the SAG, which advises on safety certificates, will reassess the decision should West Midlands Police alter its risk assessment for the match. The police department had categorized the fixture as “high risk” based on intelligence and past incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offenses involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam in November 2024.
Lisa Nandy emphasized that the issue surrounding the Villa game extended beyond matchday security, citing the growing concerns of antisemitism globally and the recent attack on a Manchester synagogue resulting in two deaths. She mentioned collaboration with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to ensure that resources are available to manage risks and facilitate the safe attendance of fans from both teams. Despite calls from Conservative MP Danny Kruger to overrule the ban using police powers, Downing Street clarified that such actions could only be taken in exceptional cases when a force is unable to operate effectively.
Liverpool MP Paula Barker highlighted the importance of heeding safety concerns at football stadiums, drawing parallels to the tragic Hillsborough disaster where 97 individuals lost their lives. Nandy pointed out the unique aspect of the Aston Villa case, where the risk assessment appeared to be influenced by the nationality and religion of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters. Ayoub Khan, representing the Birmingham Perry Barr constituency, criticized attempts to portray the situation as a ban on Jews, emphasizing the need to address violence and racism exhibited by certain fans rather than targeting specific religious or ethnic groups
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