It has now emerged in a leaked WhatsApp message seen by the JC that organisers of the Gaza protest outside the stadium planned a “search for Maccabi team” the day before the match.
Activists intended to track down the players in Birmingham hotels and shared a link with the players’ faces so they would be able to identify the Israeli side.
In a WhatsApp group chat used for West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) discussions, one message read in capital letters: “ATTENTION. SEARCH FOR MACCABI TEAM WEDNESDAY.”
The message continued: “We need volunteers for Wednesday (tomorrow) for MISSION CRITICAL search actions. We can still cancel this match if we obstruct team Maccabi from attending the match.
“Tomorrow we know they will be in the UK, but we don't know where. Flight monitoring is in progress for signs of any flight anomalies. But in the absence of concrete intel, we must search likely locations.
Leaked WhatsApp message reveals that protesters planned to hunt down Israeli players at local hotels (WhatsApp / The Jewish Chronicle)[Missing Credit]
“It is currently understood VILLA away teams normally stay at either: Hyatt hotel, Park Regis hotel. Both on Broad street. But they could be at ANY OTHER HOTELS.
“We need people to volunteer to be spotters to search the hotel lobbies and dining areas and see if they can identify the players by face around dinner time. Their photos are in the link. We need people who can search the hotel dining areas between 7pm-9pm.”
The group also planned to track the team around the stadium.
“We also need spotters at Villa park stadium tomorrow as it is normal for away teams to visit the pitch the day before the match. We have no idea what time this may be, but if we can have people rotating in and out of watching the Villa park entrances for the team coach, we can then mount a quick response, to protest them, or the spotters can follow them back to their hotels to find out where their staying, and mobilise a protest at the hotel. If you spot them, take pictures.
“Tomorrow is our only shot at this. Volunteer now.”
The revelation of the messages appears to mirror similar attempts when the Israeli team played in Amsterdam in November last year. Messages from anti-Israel activists shared at the time called for a “Jew hunt.”
Supporters of the Israeli side hid in their hotels as groups of Dutch men searched for the fans, distinctive in the yellow Maccabi merchandise.
In Birmingham, Maccabi fans were banned from attending the match. Initial reports suggested this was because West Midlands Police could not keep them safe – but on Thursday, West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said it was because the force was worried about “hooliganism” from the Israeli side.
Politicians have condemned these remarks, with former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi calling on the force to apologise to British Jews and Israelis.
The PSC was approached for comment.
