Controversy Erupts Over Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
(MENAFN) A heated political controversy has ignited in the UK over whether supporters of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv should be permitted to attend their Europa League game in Birmingham.
The dispute has raised tensions between British lawmakers and sparked a debate on broader geopolitical issues.
Zarah Sultana, an independent member of parliament who was previously elected as a Labour MP and is now forming a new left-wing political party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, strongly criticized the club's supporters.
She connected their actions to broader political matters in Israel, expressing her concerns about their behavior.
During an intense session in the House of Commons on Monday, Sultana remarked: “Maccabi Tel Aviv’s racist fan hooliganism cannot be separated from Israeli militarism. Many of these fans are active or former soldiers who have a part in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”
She further stated, “They should be investigated for war crimes the moment they set foot onto British soil, not welcomed into our stadia. And let’s be clear: this Labour government is no innocent bystander. It has armed Israel’s genocide, it has provided diplomatic cover, and it shamefully denied that genocide is even taking place."
These comments prompted a strong response from UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who sharply criticized Sultana's remarks.
Nandy warned that such language could harm the people of Birmingham and cautioned against linking the behavior of a small group of fans with the entire community, labeling this approach as dangerous.
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