Keir Starmer the football fan really should know better
Philosophy Football’s Mark Perryman defends the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa Park.
At ‘best’ this from Sir Keir is ill-informed, at worst it is naked and dangerous opportunism.
Ill-informed. As a former Director of Public Prosecutions, I would have thought our Prime Minister might know banning away fans because of the risk of public disorder isn’t in the least unusual.
Dangerous opportunism. As an Arsenal fan Sir Keir is more familiar with the North London Derby but as a football fan he is presumably aware of the Celtic v Rangers derby. When Celtic and Rangers fans are banned from travelling to the away fixture is it because they’re Catholic or Protestant? No, of course not, again it’s because of the risk of public disorder. Likewise, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans haven’t been banned from their club’s Champions League match away against Aston Villa because they are Jewish, it’s because of the risk of public disorder.
And what might that risk be? Because many, football fans or not, cannot countenance the fact that while Russia, quite rightly, was, instantly banned from all UEFA competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel committing a genocide on Gaza has not. Protests outside Villa Park have been taking place against the game, entirely peacefully. There would have been protests on the night of the game, against Israel’s genocide, not against Jews. Again, a former DPP should know the difference.
Here’s the footage from Amsterdam 2 years ago where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans armed themselves with steel bars from a construction site before going on a rampage, and then screaming antisemitism.
Thankfully we banned these thugs from the UKpic.twitter.com/q57HeooodI
— BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) October 16, 2025
But also, once more as a football fan, Sir Keir might be expected to know at least something about Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans. They are notorious in Israel for their racism towards Arab players and club, in the Israeli League. This would be akin to Arsenal fans taunting Spurs as a so-called ‘Jewish’ club not because of a long-standing North London football rivalry. An analogy Sir Keir the gooner would surely understand, and actions he’d condemn.
And Maccabi fans export all of this, mixing their racism and hooliganism. Most recently in Amsterdam just a year ago for their November 2024 Europa League game against Ajax. Widely reported but Sir Keir once again seems to have missed all of this. Funny that, I thought he was a football fan?
No fan likes to see away supporters banned. The rivalry inside the stadium is part of what makes being there so special. But sometimes bans are imposed for public safety reasons. That’s the reason for this ban, not antisemitism. Sir Keir should take down his tweet and apologise. I won’t be holding my breath.
Mark Perryman is the co-founder of the self-styled ‘sporting outfitters of intellectual distinction’ AKA Philosophy Football.
Marks distinction between a ban on public order grounds and one on racist lines is one which seems to have been missed by the bbc which simply casts the distictiion as injustice to tel aviv fans. The news fails to offer context these days and simply reflects opposing views. Frustrating. But thanks Bella for this
Thank you for this. I’m so tired of being angry with Starmer. I’ll add my voice to yours wherever and whenever possible. Love
Kim. Xx
I completely agree Mark. They should not be allowed to travel here. If they we need to get as many people as possible to protest against them. There is a real risk, therfore that these “fans” react violently, so any demonstration against them playing will need to be tightly stewarded. There will also need to be a large police presence to help prevent any escalation of violence. Honestly, it’s better they aren’t allowed to travel.
Starmer and Tories keep trying to get the Police to ban Pro Palestine marches where there is little public disorder, hooliganism and minimal arrests while trying to get the Police to overturn a ban on a football match involving an Israeli team which has been deemed a high risk of public disorder and hooliganism.
When is comes down to trying to ban Pro Palestinian marches Starmer claims the Pol have the resources while he asks Police ‘what resources do you need?’ for a football match involving an Israeli team,
Meanwhile Starmer’s governments attempt to prevent the appeal against the proscription of Palestine Action has been thrown out by the courts.
I agree with this analysis. Maccabi Tel Aviv travelling fans have a long history of racist and sectarian taunting and rabble rousing. Birmingham has a large population of people who are Muslim or of Muslim descent, a majority of whom are people of colour.
In addition the actions of the state of Israel towards the people of Gaza has horrified and outraged large numbers of people.
I think there is a genuine possibility of public disorder if Maccabi fans are allowed to visit Birmingham, or indeed, the home stadium of any UK team.
Temporary banning to prevent the possibility of public disorder has been used for many years.
Starmer’s attitude is humbug.
Alasdair – this is Starmer and many Westminster politicians showing how out of touch they are with public opinion and cosying up to Pro Israel lobby.
BBC website had interviews with Aston Villa fans and they were generally in favour of ban.
If Maccabi fans are the source of problem they should have been banned. If more general disorder was the worry the game should have been played behind closed doors.
Reaction to teams representing Israel is going to become similar to the anti apartheid protests against South African teams in late 60’s.
I have seen the Glasgow comparison cited in several reports. It is nothing to do with ‘public order.’ In 2018 Rangers unilaterally reduced the amount of tickets available to the Celtic support. Individuals are free to accept the Ibrox club’s explanation, or not. Yet again, ill-informed commentators associate Celtic FC with toxic elements that have nothing to do with the club or its supporters.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj35nvepx7po
What is very apparent is the complete disconnect between media and Westminster politicians over this subject. A yougov poll shows more people in favour of ban than against yet media and Labour, Tory, Lib Dem & Reform politicians are almost universally aghast by this ban.
On the subject of football hooliganism I am inclined to think the public have a better lived understanding on subject than Westminster politicians.
I suspect this also reflects a wider disconnect between politicians and mainstream media and public over attitude to Israel as a country now.
Interesting reports this morning on Macabbi Tel Aviv match being abandoned on Israeli police orders due to crowd disturbances and public order concerns. I suppose this makes Israeli police antisemitic in Keir Starmer, Kemo Badenoch, EdDavey, BBC & Sky News eyes?