Stan Collymore has weighed in following the controversial West Midlands Police decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa next month.
Decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Villa Park causes controversy
The decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from Villa Park has been condemned by leaders of the UK’s two most highly-represented parties in parliament, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer taking to X to criticise the move last week.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was just as unequivocal, branding the decision a “national disgrace”, while also urging Birmingham authorities to re-assess.
However, given that the Israeli side had another game postponed on Sunday, with their derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv being cancelled before kick-off due to safety concerns, it remains to be seen whether the police are willing to change their minds.
Taking to X after news of the derby being cancelled broke, Collymore shared a shocking statistic, having previously expressed anger about his former club being blamed for a situation beyond their control.
The ex-Villa man said: “Maccabi Tel Aviv have had 2 match postponements in the last 266 days for public disorder. Aston Villa haven’t had 1 in 50,080 days (since 8th September 1888, Football League Matchday 1, the birth of global league football). Home or away. Gaslit.”
Villa off to strong start in the Europa League
Unai Emery’s side endured a very poor start to the season, but they have since turned things around, winning their last five matches in all competitions, and they are in a strong position to progress in the Europa League, although it is still early days.
The Villans have won their first two matches in Europe without conceding a goal, defeating Bologna 1-0 at Villa Park, before going on to pick up an impressive 2-0 victory against Feyenoord, with Marco Bizot putting in a top performance.
The police’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be an unwelcome distraction heading into next month’s encounter in November, but Emery’s side should be able to pick up all three points, with the Israeli champions losing 3-1 at home against Dinamo Zagreb in their last Europa League match.
