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Sports | Opinion | Aston Villa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Exception That Proves the Rule
I’m a firm believer that football should be available to all, but this is the exception that proves that rule. From the moment the big red breaking news banner revealed that the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv were told that fans would be unable to attend a match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on the 5th of November, I was in true belief that the correct decision had been made.
Just as it seemed everyone in the UK had just read about Aston Villa pressing the big red nuclear button to kick-start a third world war, I was left truly stunned. Not because of any personal vendetta, but purely in the belief that the decision has to be in the best interests of those who matter most – the people, the fans.
So why take the unnecessary safety risk?
Europe’s Arenas of Chaos
The European football scene is already fast becoming an arena of violence and hooliganism for English sides – as if ancient Rome had returned from its place in history and dragged the gladiators along with it – and that’s at the best of times.
In 2023, it was the West Ham players impacted, as they were forced to run to the aid of family members caught in the midst of a pub-like brawl, as fans of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar struggled to come to terms with a 2-1 defeat to the Hammers.
Then, just this year, there was more fighting – this time a huge bar-bust up between a group of Aston Villa and Feyenoord fans overseas in Rotterdam.
Even this week – amidst all of this controversy – the Tel Aviv derby was postponed due to “violent riots,” in a truly laughable turn of events.
The right to support a club comes with the responsibility to protect others.
From Heartstrings to Handbrakes
Maccabi Tel Aviv – the same club pulling the heartstrings of the whole nation, continuing to fight for a seat on an autumn night in Birmingham – have just had a league game postponed for being too violent.
Just as the whole of the UK parliament starts to put a foot on the accelerator, they have the handbrake yanked by a mob of angry hooligans – a real dagger into the tongues of all those mouths that defended them.
And we still want to open our arms and roll them a red carpet right up to the touchline. With a lack of available staffing, a significant degree of poor planning, and most importantly, a naive dream disguised as a flawless idea.
Football’s Image Problem
It is truly bewildering – and sad – that the actions of a strong few can leave the masses left in the shadows of Villa Park’s Thursday night floodlights.
The unfortunate reality of modern football: a game of politics and public image. One that forces great people to stay confined within their Tel Aviv homes, over 2,000 miles away, from supporting their favourite players, all because of the wrongdoings of a small few.
Risk over Reward
This is not a situation that can be blamed on culture or political belief – it’s based on truth and risk. Two things that should be at the core of every decision, especially ones on this scale.
A group of factors that haven’t crunched together in the calculators or weighed a balance on the scales – and almost certainly won’t in the short time left before a new chapter in Villa’s extravagant European run is unveiled next month.
The Bigger Picture
Football is a sport curated by passion and love – a tribal bond of beauty – but where love lies, so too does greed, jealousy, and worst of all, rage. Every football fan deserves the chance to connect with their club and follow them across Europe, whether it’s Aston Villa or Maccabi Tel Aviv. But that right comes with a responsibility.
Tribalism is a part of football culture, but safety must always come first. Decisions about allowing fans into stadiums shouldn’t be driven by publicity or politics – they should be grounded in reality, security, and respect for those who make the game what it is.
Passion fuels football, but common sense keeps its heart beating.
