Birmingham MP Ayoub Khan has urged UEFA, the Culture Secretary and West Midlands Police to cancel Aston Villa’s upcoming fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv, citing safety fears and ethical concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The match, scheduled for 6 November at Villa Park, has drawn criticism from community leaders. Mr Khan, speaking outside the stadium with local councillor Mumtaz Hussain, said residents were worried about potential disorder.
“Many residents have raised concerns about the football match which is due to take place on the 6th of November. Maccabi Tel Aviv. We’ve all seen those harrowing images from Amsterdam,” he said. “I’ve started a petition to boycott football. Maccabi Tel Aviv. There is no space for violence or any thugs to come into Aston or indeed Birmingham.”
Mr Khan’s petition, published on Action Network and co-signed by Jeremy Corbyn MP, argues that the fixture “cannot be treated as business as usual.” It points to violent incidents involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters abroad and warns that hosting the club in Aston, a diverse and largely Muslim community, could spark unrest.
The petition calls for authorities to either cancel the match, move it to a neutral country, or hold it behind closed doors. It also demands that any fans linked to disorder abroad be denied entry to the UK.
“Sport cannot be an exception when human rights are at stake,” the petition states.
Aston Villa and UEFA have not yet commented.