𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending Villa Park is astonishing and shameful. It brutally exposes the issues of integration and multiculturalism Britain is battling with. Just two weeks after the sickening Manchester synagogue attack, the Jewish community are once again asking the question – are we going to be protected on Britain’s streets or not?

It is a test in which Sir Keir Starmer, the Home Office and West Midlands Police cannot be found wanting.

Otherwise, it sends a clear signal that the “mob” can intimidate people – and now the authorities – into reshaping sporting and cultural events that are supposed to be for everyone.

What makes this decision particularly staggering is that if you travel to many parts of Europe for a major football match, there are well established security protocols designed to protect away supporters from local hooligans.

These include meet-up points in specific locations, where bespoke transport is then provided to the stadium and situations where supporters are “held” back in the ground whilst the home fans leave.

This isn’t to take away from how thoroughly miserable that experience can be. It prevents thousands of people from visiting struggling pubs and restaurants and enjoying the best that the host city has to offer.

But fans were actually able to attend and follow their team. They will have memories that will last a lifetime. For some, it will be the only time they can make the journey.

And yet the authorities in Birmingham have conspired to prevent thousands from attending the game.

Left-wing MPs are gleefully celebrating the decision. It’s frankly nauseating.

Especially after so many on the left of British politics became so outraged about the suggestion of “no-go areas” in British cities.

Yet, here we are with a Labour council enforcing one in England’s second city preventing people from attending a sporting event which is supposed to unite everyone.

As Emily Damari, the hostage held by Hamas, eloquently puts: “I do wonder what exactly has become of UK society. This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying: “No Jews allowed.”