A petition to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend Villa Park to watch their team play Aston Villa in November has garnered quadruple the number of signatures as the original petition to ban them.
The decision to bar fans of the Israeli team from the match on November 6 was made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group, with the backing of West Midlands Police, citing safety concerns.
A petition called for such a move was launched back in September by Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Citing the "ongoing genocide in Gaza" and the need to "protect local communities" such as Aston in Birmingham, the pair called for either fans to be banned or for the game to be called off altogether. It has received just over 4,000 signatures since it was launched.
However, on October 16, a counter-petition was published by Stand With Us UK, which has already received over 16,000 signatures.
Part of it reads: "As supporters of Israel and educators against antisemitism in the UK, it is deeply troubling to witness the unjust decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the upcoming match against Aston Villa in Birmingham this November.
"Such measures not only undermine the spirit of sportsmanship but also raise profound questions about the UK police's capacity to ensure safety and security for all football fans...
"We call upon the West Midlands Police and relevant authorities to reconsider this decision... and reverse this ban."
Aston Villa has said: “The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”
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