Maccabi hooligans do not speak for Jews
JVL Introduction
More on the Maccabi saga, from a Jewish football fan, Elijah Aldridge, an organiser with Ipswich Fans Supporting Food Banks.
He writes that, on hearing the ban on Maccabi fans described as an attack on Jews, “I know this is a lie”:
“This is about the British Government using Jews as a shield — to excuse racism, whitewash violence, and criminalise solidarity with Palestine. Antisemitism is being weaponised: not to protect Jewish people, but to protect power. It has become the acceptable face of Islamophobia, used to suppress dissent and justify state complicity in genocide.”
He is quite clear, having visited Aston Villa many times, that the community there isn’t the problem. What puts him in danger, he believes is the conflation between fascistic fans and Judaism.
RK
This article was originally published by Tribune on Wed 22 Oct 2025. Read the original here.
Maccabi hooligans do not speak for Jews
As its shameful response to the Maccabi Tel Aviv ban underlines, the British government is exploiting Jewish suffering to protect itself — not protecting Jewish people and their communities.
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Brilliant piece, Elijah, thank you for writing it.
Such an eloquent and succinctly put article.
Well said Elijah your article should be read by everyone who criticised the West Midlands police actions, and sent directly to Keir Starmer.
Beautiful, and so pleased and proud that it came from a fellow Jew and Ipswich fan.