Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Allahu Akbar' Ringing Out in Birmingham, England...Over a Soccer Match
Hotair ^ | 11/06/25 | Beege Welborn

Posted on 11/06/2025 9:31:04 PM PST by SeekAndFind

The local Birmingham soccer club, Aston Villa, who play at Villa Park right there in the city, has a match scheduled for tonight that's causing a bit of an upset with locals.

Or, I'm not sure I should say 'locals' so much as 'people who happen to live there.'

Their opponents are the Maccabi Tel Aviv from, obviously, Israel.

As if that weren't incendiary enough in the near Muslim caliphate that the UK is rapidly devolving into, the Maccabi's away fans are banned from the stadium. They cannot attend the game, and the Villa were not permitted to set aside the usual seat allowances for away fans.

You see, in England, hosting an Israeli team is presumed to be hazardous to everyone's health. 

Not because of the Israelis, but because they ARE Israelis. Apparently, certain people who live in Birmingham are incapable of civilized behavior, which scares and intimidates the crap out of everyone.

After weeks of political controversy, Aston Villa will take on Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C in Birmingham Thursday evening without the latter team’s fans allowed to attend.

Supporters were banned from the 6 November Europa League game after Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) raised concerns about fan safety, sparking a political controversy that threatens to overshadow the match.

Critics have claimed the decision is antisemitic and punishes law-abiding fans for the actions of a minority. The UK government pledged - unsuccessfully - to try and overturn the ruling while the Board of Deputies of British Jews president Phil Rosenberg warned the “ridiculous” ban risked “giving the impression there are ‘no-go’ zones in this country”.

The war in Gaza is ultimately at the heart of the heightened tensions, after a Maccabi game in Amsterdam last year saw reports of ‘Jew hunting’, anti-Arab chants and Palestinian flags torn down as trouble spilled onto the streets.

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the country, which has now reached a 30% Muslim share of the population.

COMMUNITIES LIVING IN PARALLEL

But that's too exculpatory. A better answer is that we now have large numbers of British citizens with little in common.

Birmingham is heavily segregated. In the areas around Villa Park, the population is roughly 70% Muslim. Cross over the road, and the share drops to 5-6%. These are communities living in parallel.

pic.twitter.com/0w1nzvsELO— Sam Ashworth-Hayes (@SAshworthHayes) October 17, 2025

...Cross over the road, and the share drops to 5-6%. These are communities living in parallel.

And I'm supposed to be upset when someone incorrectly chides me for being 'nativist'? I'm not at all.

I'm an anti-Balkanist. I NEVER want to see a map of an American city that looks like this and LIVES  like this - 'in parallel.'

Where the prospect of one football game upsetting a segment of their residents is so frightening a specter to the Birmingham City Council that they had to close the schools in anticipation of adverse public participation.

Massive police presence ahead of the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa.

Ironic how MTA fans were shunned because of "safety issues", yet schools closed early and Birmingham is swarming with police to prevent chaos.

pic.twitter.com/hY7zdRfFRT— 𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) November 6, 2025

Pathetic, groveling, enabling weasels.

A gentleman who had served as the team attorney for years for one of the more prestigious soccer clubs said the ban on fans was shameful - that the game and politics should never mix.

But if one were a Jewish Birmingham resident still planning to go, he advises, 'don't wear the Israeli flag on your shoulder.'

..."As a Jew born in London and living here my entire life, I need to take special precautions. This is the first time I feel this way. For example, there are pro-Palestinian marches in central London almost every Saturday, an area we must stay away from. There are no similar protests against the mass killings in Sudan and Nigeria. This doesn't have much connection to football. The decision was made minutes after the match was set, based on what happened to Maccabi fans in Amsterdam and Derby. This is a connection between sports and politics, as happened in the past in South Africa, and it's terrible in my eyes.

"Decision-makers found a way to justify the narrative – and that's what happened in Amsterdam. They claim Maccabi fans are hooligans and thus changed the story. My uncle lives in Herzliya, and a friend of his was at the match against Ajax. He told me what happened in Amsterdam, how they chased Jews in the streets. Ultimately, I think Maccabi made the right decision when it gave up the tickets and looked after its fans."

Q: Should Jews be afraid to attend?

"Not because they're Jews. Birmingham is England's second-largest city, but it has a large immigrant community, mainly Muslim. I don't think any Jew who is an Aston Villa fan would be afraid to go to matches. However, if an Israeli flag were on their shoulders – that's a risk that shouldn't be taken."

Prior to this evening's match, there were plans in place for a significantly beefed-up police presence. 

Decorating the neighborhood around the stadium had already begun. To give the Israeli team all sorts of warm fuzzies.

...More than 700 police officers will be deployed, along with police horses, police dogs and a drone unit, with protests expected by different groups, West Midlands police said.

...On the streets of Aston, and close to the Villa stadium, lamp-posts are covered with Palestinian flags and some local businesses display posters of a rally scheduled on Thursday in support of Palestine and calling for Israel to be suspended from Uefa and Fifa.

Abul Lase, who owns an accountancy firm in Aston, said someone had approached him to ask whether they could display the poster in his window. He agreed, although he has no plans to attend the protest.

“There’s a lot of anxiousness around here,” Lase, 50, said. “For me, I don’t want [the match] to happen. But local people don’t want it to happen – a lot of them because [of what is happening in] Palestine right now. You probably see a lot of Palestine flags here, so you see the feelings for it.”

...According to West Midlands police, the fixture on Thursday was classified as “high risk” based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including “violent clashes and hate crime offences” that occurred around the 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.

Not exactly the Welcome Wagon, but they sure tried, didn't they?

Main road into Birmingham this morning ahead of Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv.

pic.twitter.com/9K9rvXjgNr— Queen Natalie (@TheNorfolkLion) November 6, 2025

By 8 a.m. this morning, protesters were already camping out around the stadium, as police began to move their assets in.

...Anti-Israel protesters made their presence felt around Villa Park hours before tonight's controversial match with Palestinian flags flying and signs displayed yards from the ground.

The scene was quiet when a BirminghamLive reporter arrived in the area before 8am today, Thursday, November 6. But there was plenty of evidence that campaigners had been around with signs also put up on lampposts bearing messages including: "No war games allowed".

By the time night fell, hundreds had gathered, and police were already warning the crowd they'd be arresting violators who got out of hand.

A large group of protesters has now gathered outside Villa Park ahead of Villa's game against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

ITV Central estimates there are several hundred people there now, many waving flags.

Various groups are calling for the match, which kicks off at 8pm, to be cancelled.

The game hit the international headlines after local authorities said that Maccabi fans would be blocked from attending the game, with West Midlands Police classifying the fixture as high-risk based on “current intelligence and previous incidents."

There is also now a large police presence.

The chair of the local Palestine organization promised no violence - butter wouldn't melt in their mouths - even as he promised 'tens of thousands' of demonstrators were on the way to the area.

 ...The Chair of West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign has pledged there will be no violence from his organisation.

Naeem Malik said he is expecting tens of thousands of people to gather around Villa Park to protest at the Israeli side's inclusion in international sport.

They certainly sound friendly. Catch the male chorus in the background in last three seconds or so of the video.

🇬🇧 Heavy police presence still to be soon in Birmingham, as @YoungBobTPUK and @shillitz report LIVE. https://t.co/XXs0laxYrW pic.twitter.com/8eLvSALlrx— VoxPopuli (@vpopulimedia) November 6, 2025

I don't think they have enough cops, frankly.

Then again, the British 'police' are removing the independent journalists who are in the area reporting on what's really happening. 

(NSFW LANGUAGE warning)

🇬🇧 @YoungBobTPUK gets ASSAULTED, told to “FUCK OFF” and called a “NEO NAZI” by aggressive anti Israel protestor. https://t.co/8pUKAzkbla pic.twitter.com/EgCmzxhaUH— VoxPopuli (@vpopulimedia) November 6, 2025

One of Tommy Robinson's peeps is outside the stadium right now. He interviewed a true local a little bit ago, who says it's a damned disgrace that they have to deploy 700 police because of 'one part of their community' (at 28:00 mins into the live feed

'...Their orders are to bow down to the mob. We've seen that with the hate marches in London. Where there's mass police presence but nothing's actually done about the issue. Police officers, as you said, can be redeployed to protect people on the streets and do their jobs. And not protect a mob that wants to run through Birmingham, Leeds and the other cities on a weekly basis. So, yeah. When they're cutting police. It's absolutely disgraceful when they're cutting police numbers and we have to deploy 700 police officers to Birmingham for a football game because of fear of what one part of our community will decide they might do....'

Starmtroopers probably already have this guy's name and will be banging on his door sometime soon for social reeducation after he recants and repents. I hope he's locked on someone to take care of his pets if he has any...just in case.

FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA

Breaking that golden oldie out now.

Large pro-Palestine protest is staged outside Villa Park ahead of tonight’s Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv game. A huge security operation is in place across Birmingham this evening. pic.twitter.com/FrWPmYMK42— Adrian Rutherford (@arutherfordNI) November 6, 2025

Such delightful people.

Currently outside Villa Park where there are thousands of people protesting Aston Villa’s Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“The city of Birmingham are Villa fans tonight” one pro-Palestine activist figure tells me

#Birmingham #AstonVilla pic.twitter.com/dgxHvC1Lrp— Dan Stacey (@DanStacey03) November 6, 2025

A few, lone, brave souls are standing silently with Israeli flags, scattered amidst the hate-filled cacophony.

🚨🇬🇧 BIRMINGHAM PROTESTS

Protests have broken out ahead of the match between Aston Villa and Tel Aviv Maccabi.

A massive police operation is underway in preparation for the game as tensions flare between opposing fans. pic.twitter.com/oUIGWEh5mV— Chyno News (@ChynoNews) November 6, 2025

I sure hope the police arrest them first when it all blows up if they're still anywhere near the stadium.

It will probably be what saves their lives.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: england; islam

1 posted on 11/06/2025 9:31:04 PM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
You see, in England, hosting an Israeli team is presumed to be hazardous to everyone's health.

Whereas in Israel, opposing viewpoints and cultures are allowed freedom including a religious sect of Jewish citizens that wants to end the State of Israel (as it's not supposed to exist until the Messiah arrives) since 1948 has allowed 102 Arabs to serve in the ruling Knesset.

2 posted on 11/06/2025 9:38:16 PM PST by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Kid who knows Hebrew, to his Israeli mother:
What does the banner say?

Mother: Welcome soccer fans.


3 posted on 11/06/2025 9:40:03 PM PST by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Islam is a war plan


4 posted on 11/06/2025 9:53:53 PM PST by Gene Eric
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Our flag is called offensive, but Hamas can march with pride.
It’s rules for the chosen few - the rest get pushed aside.


5 posted on 11/06/2025 10:06:49 PM PST by Tzimisce ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

First of all, soccer is for sissies. Second, what do expect from people that drive on the left side of the road?


6 posted on 11/06/2025 10:38:20 PM PST by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commie is lying is when they open their pieholes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Just in case you had any doubts about where the BBC stands, from its article about the match:

“ Aston Villa announced last month that no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be welcome at the match, a decision made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group following intelligence from West Midlands Police.
The Guardian reported the force’s intelligence concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club, with scores of fans connected to a past history of violence and shouting “racist taunts” likely to travel to Birmingham.”

“ Ch Supt Joyce, Birmingham’s police commander, said police had prepared for the possibility of people turning up looking for a fight.
He told Sky News that “significant levels of hooliganism” among the Maccabi fan base was the reason for the ban.”

“ In September, a UN commission of inquiry said Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza with reasonable grounds to conclude four out of five genocidal acts had been carried out.”


7 posted on 11/06/2025 11:30:17 PM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VanShuyten

That’s infuriating. Islam and Marxism will continue to use Europes ignorant liberalism to end Europe as we’ve known it. It gets more difficult every day to see how this ends without violence.


8 posted on 11/06/2025 11:54:50 PM PST by neverevergiveup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: All

No doubt Israel has welcomed Brum fans to travel to the return leg and stay for a few years all expenses paid.

The most remarkable part of this story for one born in Brum (and gone since 1957) is that Aston Villa made it to the UEFA cup. They have always been a sort of middling team in the top division of English soccer, seldom gaining a spot in European championship play like better known Man City, Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea.

I haven’t been back to Brum for many years and when I did go back it wasn’t this racially divided but the trend was there and a few parts of the city are basically no go zones, where I lived was not affected by it being about ten miles the other side of the city from Aston and the southern portions that are also heavily Muslim now. It’s a nice place other than the race riots.


9 posted on 11/07/2025 1:22:26 AM PST by Peter ODonnell (Do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage against the dying of the light -- Dylan Thomas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

When they shout “allahu akbar”, return the shout with … “I’d love a candy bar too”


10 posted on 11/07/2025 1:54:49 AM PST by Highest Authority (DemonRats are pure EVIL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HighSierra5
First of all, soccer is for sissies.. . .

Uhhhh, j'ever play? Top-speed, feet-first slide-tackling perfectly legal? And, unlike our US football, no shoulder pads allowed for the target? Just for starters?

Men are men. Sports will always be like that.

11 posted on 11/07/2025 5:48:51 AM PST by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson