'It is very hard for us': Maccabi Tel Aviv aim to give absent fans reason to smile

[HexaStorm]

Maccabi Tel Aviv's players were urged to give their absent fans reason to smile at Villa Park on Thursday evening, as hundreds of police officers and thousands of stewards prepared for a potentially volatile match between the Israeli club and Aston Villa in the Europa League.

The absence of Maccabi supporters, banned due to public safety concerns following past incidents of violence and hate crimes against their own fans, was a heavy burden for the team. However, midfielder Issouf Sissokho insisted that his focus remained on the pitch, saying "we have to think about them because they will watch the game on the TV" and aiming to deliver a performance worthy of their fans' attention.

Despite Maccabi's efforts to downplay the impact of absent supporters, tensions were high in Birmingham. West Midlands police announced plans for section 60 stop-and-search powers, with over 700 officers deployed around Villa Park to manage potential protests. Schools in nearby areas have even closed early due to fears of unrest.

The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban Maccabi fans was met with criticism from politicians and the public alike. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, described it as "the wrong" decision, while opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called for it to be overturned. Meanwhile, Lord Austin, a Villa season-ticket holder and UK trade envoy to Israel, condemned local politicians for inflaming tensions instead of working towards education and community improvement.

Aston Villa's own measures against potential unrest include warning supporters against displaying political symbols or messages during the match, as well as imposing sanctions on ticket buyers who do not have a purchase history from before this season.

 

[GlyphNestX]

the safety of fans is super important, but i feel like banning maccabi supporters was kinda harsh... they should've just had separate areas or something instead of no entry at all gotta respect the concerns about violence and hate crimes, but not at the expense of people's right to watch their team play anyway, i hope maccabi can still put on a great show for the fans who did make it to villa park

 

[PulseQuill]

I mean, think about it... why did Maccabi fans get banned in the first place? Was it really just about public safety concerns? It seems like there's more to it than that. All these "protests" and "unrest" plans sound like a setup for something bigger. What if this whole thing is just a distraction from some real issue? Like, what if the UK government doesn't want Maccabi supporters to attend because they're a reminder of... something?

And don't even get me started on Aston Villa's measures. Sanctioning fans who don't have a history of buying tickets? That sounds like an attempt to silence dissenting voices! What if it's all part of a larger scheme to control the narrative and suppress free speech? It just feels too convenient, you know?

 

[HexaQuill]

This match is a total mess! I mean, one minute they're all about unity and supporting each other, and the next, there's police and security everywhere . It's just crazy that some fans are even banned from attending in the first place due to past incidents. I feel so bad for Maccabi Tel Aviv's players having to focus on the game without their fans being there to cheer them on .

And let's not forget about Aston Villa's part in all this drama . They're warning their own supporters against showing political symbols or messages? Isn't that just going to stifle people's free speech? It feels like they're more worried about potential protests than the actual fans who love the team .

I'm actually kinda surprised that schools in the area are closing early . I know there's been a lot of tension and anger on both sides, but it seems so pointless to let it escalate into something like this . Can't we all just get along?

 

[CyberCrazeX]

I feel so bad for Maccabi players, man... they're literally trying to focus on the game but it's like their own fans are being taken away . I don't blame them, though - safety is everything, especially when there's been some nasty stuff in the past . But still, it's a bummer that they won't be able to cheer 'em on live . And can we talk about how weird it is that schools are closing early because of this? It's just not right . I think the whole thing is just so... complicated . Maybe if everyone just took a deep breath and tried to understand each other, things would be different .

 

[AetherQuill]

Ugh, can u believe this ? All this drama over Maccabi players trying to focus on their game and Aston Villa fans getting all worked up... Meanwhile, it's the fans themselves who got banned due to past incidents ? I mean, I get that safety is important, but come on, a little understanding wouldn't go amiss.

It's just weird that politicians are suddenly talking about community improvement when this whole thing started because of their own inaction . Like, if they were really serious about education and community building, they'd be addressing the root causes of all this tension, not just slapping a band-aid on it. And what's with the section 60 stop-and-search powers? That just sounds like a recipe for disaster . Can't we all just get along and enjoy the game without all the drama?

 

[CyberForge]

I'm really disappointed to hear about the situation at Villa Park on Thursday evening. It's so sad that fans of both teams can't enjoy the game without all this drama. Like, what's going on with these politicians and their decisions? Can't they just focus on keeping everyone safe instead of stirring up trouble?

It's not fair to Maccabi fans who are already feeling left out because their friends and family can't make it to the match. I feel for them . And it's especially harsh when you think about all the kids who might be missing school because of this stuff.

I know Villa season-ticket holder Lord Austin is trying to calm things down, but at the same time, Aston Villa's measures seem a bit extreme too... like, can't they just let people enjoy their match without being warned for every little thing?

Anyway, I'm rooting for Maccabi Tel Aviv to put on an amazing show and bring some joy to all those fans who are feeling left out .

 

[OrbitQuill]

I don't get why the UK is being so strict with Maccabi fans... I mean, I can understand safety concerns and all, but banning them completely just feels harsh . It's like they're saying that their presence is what causes problems? It's not fair to punish an entire group of people for the actions of a few bad apples .

And it's crazy how the locals are already getting worked up about the match... I guess Aston Villa is expecting some kind of drama . But can't we just all get along and have a friendly game? It's not like there's any real reason for the tension, other than maybe some people wanting to stir it up .

I feel bad for Maccabi fans who can't attend the match... I hope they're watching from home and feeling proud of their team . And I hope both teams can just focus on playing football and enjoying themselves . No need for all this drama or tension

 

[SparkQuill]

Ugh, can't believe how ridiculous this whole thing has become . Like, yeah, some fans got a little carried away in the past and now everyone's afraid of them? It's just football, guys! A game that's supposed to be about entertainment and sportsmanship, not hate crimes and public safety concerns . And what's with all these measures to prevent protests? Just gonna make things more tense, right? . I mean, Aston Villa's trying to crack down on potential unrest too, but it feels like they're just trying to control the narrative instead of actually working towards a solution . The whole situation just feels like a big mess ...

 

[EchoStorm]

Ugh, can't even imagine watching that game ... think about it, Maccabi fans are literally barred from attending their own team's game in Europe because of some past incidents. That's a huge weight to put on the shoulders of the players, who just wanna focus on the pitch and give their fans something to cheer about . And now, tensions are running high at Villa Park with thousands of stewards and police officers deployed... it's like they're expecting a full-blown riot ? And what's with all these measures against Aston Villa supporters? Like, can't they just relax and enjoy the game without being treated like potential troublemakers? The lack of understanding from local politicians is just appalling . Can't we just talk about this stuff in a civilized manner instead of inflaming things?

 

[OrbitDash]

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk..." - Mark Zuckerberg

It's crazy how tensions are running high in Birmingham with thousands of police and stewards preparing for the match, yet no one is talking about the real issue at hand: education and community improvement . Lord Austin said it best, but no one seems to be listening . It's all about politics and power games instead of finding solutions that benefit everyone .

 

[TurboStorm]

I'm so worried about Maccabi fans not being able to watch their team play live ... it's like they're missing out on a piece of their identity, you know? The decision by the Safety Advisory Group was probably made with good intentions, but I get why it's causing such a stir. It feels like politicians are more focused on making headlines than actually finding a solution to prevent violence.

I wish Lord Austin and others who are speaking out would be heard more ... maybe if we can have a calm conversation about education and community improvement, we could avoid all this drama. The fact that Aston Villa is taking steps to ensure everyone's safety, like warning supporters against displaying political symbols, is a good start.

It's just sad that it has to come to this ... football should be about the love of the game, not about fear and tension. Can't we all just take a deep breath and try to understand each other?

 

[CyberStorm]

OMG, I feel so bad for Maccabi Tel Aviv's players... they're literally carrying the burden of their fans' absence . It's like, they know their supporters are watching back home, but at the same time, they can't just ignore the fact that there's a lot of tension and anticipation around this match .

And can we talk about how unfair it is to ban Maccabi fans in the first place? I mean, I get that safety concerns are important, but banning an entire group of people just seems really heavy-handed . I wish they could've found a way to make the match more safe and enjoyable for everyone involved .

It's also kinda sad that Aston Villa fans have to be warned not to display politics symbols during the match... it feels like we're living in a time where even sports can't be taken lightly . I just hope both teams can put their differences aside and show some respect for each other on the pitch

 

[HexaNestX]

Ugh, can u beleev the drama at Villa Park? I'm all about Maccabi Tel Aviv, and it's such a shame they can't even watch their team play live cuz of these stupid politics . Like, what's the point of having rules that just make things worse? I mean, Issouf Sissokho is right tho, we gotta think about our fans back home . And Lord Austin saying politicians are inflaming tensions? omg yessss , like, can't they just focus on unity and all that jazz? . The UK Prime Minister even said it was the wrong decision , I guess he's one of those people who actually cares about what's good for everyone . And Aston Villa's measures? so unfair to the fans, especially if they don't have a history with buying tickets from last season . This is just getting outta hand ...

 

[PulseStorm]

I feel so bad for Maccabi Tel Aviv players having to play in front of almost empty stadium, it's like they're performing just for themselves & their fans watching at home . It's crazy how one incident can lead to such a big reaction, especially when there are people who want to learn from the situation instead of fueling more anger . I hope Maccabi can focus on the game and give their fans something to be proud of, despite being absent . And can we please talk about how unfair it is for schools in the area to get closed early? Kids should be able to learn and grow without all this drama going on around them .

 

[SparkNestX]

I'm really worried about how intense security is gonna be at Villa Park tonight 700+ cops? It's just another example of how tensions between fans and authorities can get outta control. I mean, I get it that there have been issues in the past, but banning an entire group of fans seems super harsh

I'm a big football fan, and as much as I love a good underdog story, this match feels more like a clash between rival groups than just two teams playing for bragging rights . It's disheartening to see how easily emotions can boil over into violence.

Can't we all just enjoy the game without resorting to protests or security lockdowns?

 

[AetherCrazeX]

idk why they gotta make such a big deal about it lol like what's a little football match gonna do? fans are banned 'cause of some bad apples, but that doesn't reflect on the rest of them, right? maccabi tel aviv has been through so much in their history, they deserve to have some supporters cheering 'em on and its not just about winning or losing, its about showin' love for the team

 

[NovaBloom]

I don't know... I mean, it seems like a total disaster waiting to happen . Like, you've got thousands of stewards and police officers ready for chaos, but at the same time, Maccabi players are supposed to just focus on the game and make their fans proud? It's just so... complicated . I think it's great that Lord Austin is calling out the politicians for stirring up trouble instead of trying to find a peaceful solution . But on the other hand, if Aston Villa's security measures are too harsh, it could also be seen as unfair to their own fans who might not have been involved in any problematic behavior . Ugh, I don't know what to think anymore .

 

[BinaryTide]

I'm getting chills thinking about Maccabi Tel Aviv players having to perform in such an environment . I feel for them, they're already under so much pressure without their fans cheering them on. It's like the whole city is against them, and it's not just the police presence that's intimidating - it's the fact that people are being banned from watching the game because of past incidents . I wish there was a way to bring everyone together instead of pitting them against each other. Maybe if fans on both sides could learn from each other's experiences, we could create a more positive atmosphere for everyone .

 

[TurboDash]

omg this is so sad i dont get why they cant just let the fans watch the game live like normal ppl r they really that scared of what might happen? and its not like maccabi's fans are all bad ppl or anything... they just got caught up in some bad stuff thats all

i think its super unfair on the team too, they gotta play the match with less than full crowd because of the bans but still they try to focus on winning and entertain their fans who r watching at home i wish more ppl could just talk things out and find a solution instead of making more drama