Israelis and British leaders condemn Aston Villa’s fan ban as a surrender to antisemitism, likened by hostage survivor Emily Damari to segregation-era hatred.
The United Kingdom is facing a storm of backlash after authorities decided to bar Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the team’s upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham on November 6 — a move widely condemned as institutional antisemitism and moral cowardice in the face of extremist threats.
Among the most searing reactions came from hostage survivor and British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, who compared the decision to the darkest chapters of Europe’s past.
“This is like putting up a big sign saying ‘No Jews allowed’,” Damari wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I am absolutely shocked by this outrageous decision to ban me, my family, and friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the UK. Football is supposed to unite people regardless of faith or color — this disgusting decision does exactly the opposite.”
Damari, who survived Hamas captivity and has become a powerful voice against antisemitism, added:
“What happened to Britain where blatant antisemitism has become the norm? What a sad world we live in.”
Starmer and Israeli Officials Condemn Decision
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer swiftly condemned the move, tweeting:
“This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game without fear of violence.”
In Jerusalem, Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer called the ban “nothing less than a reward to radical Islam and terrorism against Jews and the free world.”
“The British government must fight antisemitism with determination and not surrender to it,” Sofer declared. “This decision must be reversed. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be allowed to attend the match, and their safety must be guaranteed.”
Police Justify Ban, Critics Call It Capitulation
West Midlands Police, which backed the Safety Advisory Group recommendation to block Israeli supporters, defended the decision by labeling the match “high risk,” citing prior violence in Amsterdam where dozens were arrested — including some Maccabi fans accused of tearing a Palestinian flag and shouting anti-Arab slogans.
Critics, however, argue that such reasoning punishes the victims rather than addressing the threats, setting a dangerous precedent in a Europe already grappling with record antisemitic incidents. Jewish organizations in both Britain and Israel say the decision reflects a moral inversion — “security by exclusion,” which emboldens hate groups and normalizes discrimination under the guise of public safety.
“A Reward for Fear, Not Justice”
For many Israelis, the ban symbolizes how Western institutions are yielding to intimidation instead of confronting it. As antisemitic rhetoric surges across Europe following the Gaza war, the exclusion of Jewish fans from a major sporting event marks what analysts call a new low in Britain’s moral resolve.
“It is fear, not justice, that is being enforced,” one Israeli commentator noted. “Britain is choosing to protect the aggressors’ narrative rather than its own democratic values.”
A Symbolic Test for the Free World
The controversy transcends football. It has become a litmus test of Western courage — whether democracies will protect Jewish citizens’ rights equally or yield to mobs masquerading as activists. As survivor Emily Damari’s words echo worldwide, the message is painfully clear: banning Jews for their own “safety” is not protection — it is surrender.
