Unmasking the Lies: Maccabi Tel Aviv Ban Is About Hooliganism, Not Anti-Semitism

How right-wing rhetoric distorts a necessary ban of Tel Aviv hooligans to protect communities in Birmingham.

The decision by UK authorities to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the upcoming Europa League match at Aston Villa in Birmingham has sparked a fierce debate across political, media, and public domains. At the heart of the controversy is a false narrative being promoted by right wing politicians, politicians funded by Israeli lobby groups and private donors, and media voices in the UK claiming that the ban is rooted in anti-Semitism and/or hatred towards Israelis. However, a thorough examination of the facts reveals that the ban has nothing to do with ethnicity or religion; it is squarely based on the documented history of violent hooliganism, racist provocations, and disorderly conduct by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters wherever they go in Europe. This ban is purely a public safety measure focused on protecting Birmingham and its residents from foreseeable harm - not a prejudicial act against Israelis or Jews - despite the victimised rhetoric being peddled by the usual suspects.

The Distortion of Reality by Right-Wing Narratives

Since the announcement of the ban, many UK right-wing politicians and commentators have framed the decision as evidence of widespread anti-Semitic sentiment within British institutions or society at large. Some have even echoed flimsy claims that Israeli fans themselves face threats of violence in the UK after a number of isolated incidents, and thus banning Maccabi supporters only serves to further stigmatise them unfairly. These narratives weaponise concerns about anti-Semitism - an entirely real and serious issue - to deflect from the clear and objective reasons underpinning the ban by the Police.

The Israeli embassy in London even took steps to politicise the situation by suggesting that Celtic fans should be banned as well, engaging in a false equivalence that further clouds the debate. - simply because the Celtic support are Pro-Palestinian and have called for Israel to be banned from European competitions for genocide in Gaza - just as Russian clubs have been banned for the invasion of Ukraine. This predictable PR tactic attempts to muddy the waters and distract the public and authorities from addressing the specific security risks posed by Maccabi fans, instead framing the ban as an anti-Israel conspiracy or outright anti-Semitism.​ A tactic that Israel has honed since the end of the Second World War - weaponising the holocaust as a Get Out of Free card whenever they murder innocent men, women, and children - as they have done since the state of Israel was founded in 1948.

The Historical Context of Violence and Hooliganism

The reality is that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters have repeatedly been involved in violent and racist incidents at football matches across Europe, with a particularly notorious incident happening as recently as November 2024 during a Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam. On the day of the match, over 200 Maccabi supporters roamed the streets aggressively, tearing down Palestinian flags from buildings and setting them on fire while chanting virulently racist anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans - revelling in the genocide their country is conducting in Gaza. Violence escalated into physical assaults on civilians and clashes with police, ultimately resulting in over 60 arrests and multiple injuries. The disorder continued beyond the stadium, affecting wider parts of the city.​ And yet right wing politicians and commentators tried to paint the Tel Aviv fans as the victims.

This was not an isolated event. Earlier in 2024, in Athens, Maccabi fans brutally attacked a man carrying a Palestinian flag and ignited flares in public areas, acts which further showcased their readiness to engage in aggressive, provocative, and hooligan behaviour. In Cyprus in 2023, supporters were arrested for carrying flares and smoke bombs and fighting with locals, underscoring a consistent pattern of hooliganism. UEFA has also historically fined Maccabi Tel Aviv due to fan misconduct, including a 2013 fine related to banners proclaiming “FEEL THE TERROR OF TEL AVIV” – an intimidating slogan steeped in extremist ideology.​

Why the Ban Is About Public Safety, Not Ethnicity or Politics

The West Midlands Police’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from traveling to Birmingham for the Aston Villa match was based on solid intelligence and prior incidents involving fan violence and hate crime offenses, particularly those connected to the documented Amsterdam riots. The police explicitly noted the “high risk” nature of this fixture due to the violent history of Maccabi supporters.​

This is a standard approach in European football policing - fan bans are imposed when historical or current intelligence indicates a legitimate threat to public order and safety. Comparable bans have been placed on fans of other clubs with histories of hooliganism. For example, in 2023, Legia Warsaw supporters were banned by the same West Midlands Police after violent behaviour. The objective criterion for bans is behaviour, not identity.​ Or do West Midlands Police hate Poles now also? We didn’t hear any condemnation then did we?

The claims floated by some politicians that the ban was designed to protect Israeli fans from violence in the UK distorts the situation even further. There is no immediate credible threat identified toward Maccabi fans in Birmingham. Instead, the ban is a pre-emptive, preventive measure designed to protect local residents and businesses from potential violent outbreaks caused by the past actions of Maccabi supporters themselves.​

The False Equivalence With Celtic Fans

The ludicrous and downright insulting attempts to suggest that Celtic fans should also be banned beside Maccabi fans - as prompted by some Israeli officials and repeated in UK political rhetoric - lack basis when scrutinised. But has everything to do with the Celtic fans’ stance against the genocide in Gaza, the Zionist regime under Benjamin Netanyahu, and their horrific treatment of the Palestinians. It’s another ‘whataboutery’ moment from Israeli officials who love to deflect from the actions of their own people rather than holding their hands up and holding themselves accountable. They are the proverbial toddler caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Maccabi’s fan base is well known for their explicit racist chanting, particularly anti-Arab slogans during matches, and celebrating militarism connected to the Israeli occupation. These hooligan acts are far removed from typical football rivalry, involving direct assaults on civilians and vandalism, thereby justifying special public safety measures. The focus on Maccabi’s history of violence, not the nationality or religion of its fans, is what underpins policing decisions.​

Why do so many right wing politicians and commentators want to protect the rights of hooligan elements within the Maccabi Tel Aviv support over their fellow Brits and communities in Birmingham? Has it to do with their own links to Israel? Be it the brown paper bags full of ‘donations’ to their political campaigns? The free trips to the Holy Land they get? I thought these right wingers hated foreigners coming into our communities, taking them over, and wanting to destroy them?

Separating Anti-Semitism from Law Enforcement

Anti-Semitism is a real issue requiring vigilance and strong condemnation wherever it appears, including within football. However, the failure or the lies being fed to the wider audience to disentangle legitimate law enforcement responses to football hooliganism from accusations of anti-Semitism damages efforts to combat genuine hate crimes - this extends to Downing Street and the Zionist funded Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the majority of his cabinet. This confusion risks undermining the integrity of security measures and distracts from addressing true anti-Semitic threats.

In Amsterdam, for instance, violence was described by the city authorities as a “toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger about conflicts in the Middle East.” Both Israeli fans and pro-Palestinian protesters were targeted, reflecting the complexity of the situation. Genuine anti-Semitic violence was condemned by Dutch authorities and leaders internationally.​

However, police and local officials did not ignore or excuse the blatant provocations and violent acts initiated by Maccabi supporters themselves - the racist chanting, flag burning, and attacks were widely denounced and used as evidence to justify measures like bans and heightened policing.​ And yet politicians and commentators internationally conveniently ignored the actions of the Maccabi supporters to frame the narrative targeting migrants and Pro-Palestinian protestors as the real perpetrators.

Birmingham’s Responsibility to Protect Its Citizens

The key duty for Birmingham authorities and UK police is to maintain peace and safety for all residents. Given the explosive history of Maccabi fan-related violence, banning those fans to prevent potential mayhem is a responsible and necessary decision. It is a risk management action based on clear facts.

While no one disputes the importance of protecting minority groups and combating anti-Semitism, allowing a group with such a violent track record free rein under the pretext of alleged discrimination against them would be negligent. This measure is not against Israelis or Jews; it is against violent behaviour that has proven destructive in multiple European cities over the years.​

The Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban in Birmingham exemplifies the difficult balance between ensuring public safety and respecting community rights. The decision is rooted strictly in past violent behaviour by Maccabi supporters, not ethnic or religious prejudice.

Claims by right-wing politicians and media commentators that this ban is motivated by anti-Semitism or that it unfairly targets Israelis lack evidence and serve only to politicise, and distort public understanding. The decision is about violent hooliganism and protecting the city’s population from foreseeable disturbances - just as the Police did with Legia Warsaw fans two years earlier.

Accepting this truth is crucial if football policing is to be effective and anti-Semitism is to be fought seriously and separately from security actions justified by concrete evidence of fan violence. Sadly with Starmer and co. now playing to the gallery they are putting the communities of Birmingham at risk - simply to win favour with their rich benefactors and secure votes within a specific ethnic group.

This ban should be understood as a measured, fact-based public safety intervention targeting violent hooliganism - nothing more, nothing less. A city like Birmingham deserves no less protection from violence than any other city around the world, regardless of the nationality or religion of those responsible.