Hamas hostage survivor slams 'antisemitic' UK over Maccabi Tel Aviv Aston Villa ban

A former Hamas hostage has condemned the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their team's match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, calling it "outrageous" and "discriminatory", as the West Midlands police and crime commissioner orders an immediate review of the move.

Emily Damari, who was released from Hamas captivity in January and describes herself as a "die-hard" Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, said she was "shocked to her core" by the decision to prohibit Israeli supporters from the Europa Conference League fixture on 6 November.

"Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite," she said in a post on X.

"It's like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying 'No Jews allowed'. What has become of the UK where blatant antisemitism has become the norm?"

The decision, taken by Birmingham City Council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) on advice from West Midlands Police, deemed the event "high risk" due to safety concerns, citing hate crime incidents involving Israeli fans after a Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Amsterdam last year.

However, the move has sparked fierce political backlash, with figures from across the spectrum, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, condemning it as wrong and discriminatory.

Starmer said it was "the wrong decision", insisting: "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."

The Prime Minister added: "The job of the police is to protect fans, not exclude them."

Meanwhile, Badenoch branded the decision a "national disgrace" and urged the government to act swiftly to overturn it.

Amid mounting pressure, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has now intervened, calling for an urgent review of the ban.

In a statement, he said: "The safety and security of all the people and communities of the West Midlands, including visitors, is my top priority. That is absolute, unconditional and non-negotiable."

"I have requested that Birmingham City Council's Safety Advisory Group and West Midlands Police convene a Special SAG at the earliest possible opportunity and conduct an immediate review of the decision to prohibit the attendance of away fans."