Britain’s government is doing everything in its power to make sure traveling fans of soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv can attend a match in Birmingham next month, interior minister Shabana Mahmood says.
“Antisemitism is a stain on our society that shames us all. Every football fan, whoever they are, should be able to watch their team in safety,” Mahmood says on X.
“This Government is doing everything in our power to ensure all fans can safely attend the game,” she writes.
The Birmingham-based Premier League club said yesterday that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would not be allowed to attend due to security concerns.
The announcement followed a wave of anti-Israel protests in recent days during the Israeli national team’s World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy, with police using tear gas on protesters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Oslo and Udine. Last year, fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv were ambushed and violently attacked by organized gangs in Amsterdam following a match against Ajax.
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