Israeli police cancel Tel Aviv football match after 4 injured
Israeli police have suspended a football derby between Tel Aviv’s rival football teams, Hapoel and Maccabi, after at least four people were injured in riots in and around the stadium, The Times of Israel reports.
Notably, the cancellation of the match in Tel Aviv comes as West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom have faced criticism, including from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for banning away fans from a Europa League match between Maccabi and Aston Villa over safety concerns.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are known for making offensive and racist chants. In a match against Ajax in Amsterdam last year, they were filmed chanting “Death to Arabs” and “No children left in Gaza”, and engaging in vandalism throughout the city.
UK MPs support police decision to ban Israeli fans from Aston Villa game
UK MPs have expressed their support for the decision by police to ban Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the match against Aston Villa in Birmingham after violence broke out at a derby match in Israel yesterday.
The decision has been fiercely criticised by the UK government, which has framed the issue as a question of discrimination against Israeli fans.
In a post on X, independent MP Ayoub Khan said: “To Keir Starmer and others who tried to make this about religion! Here’s more evidence. Even under the world’s spotlight, these fans chose violence, injuring police officers.”
Richard Burgon, a Labour MP, broke with his government, saying the developments vindicate the decision by the police to ban away fans from attending the game.
“This news exposes how absurd that campaign has been,” he said on X. “The people of Birmingham have a right to be kept safe.”
