Philosophy Football’s Mark Perryman defends the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa Park

At ‘best’, this from Sir Keir is ill-informed, at worst, it is naked and dangerous opportunism.

Ill-informed. As a former Director of Public Prosecutions, I would have thought our prime minister might know that banning away fans because of the risk of public disorder isn’t in the least unusual.

Dangerous opportunism. As an Arsenal fan, Sir Keir is more familiar with the north London Derby but as a football fan he is presumably aware of the Celtic vs Rangers Derby. When Celtic and Rangers fans are banned from travelling to the away fixture, is it because they’re Catholic or Protestant? No, of course not, again, it’s because of the risk of public disorder. Likewise, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans haven’t been banned from their club’s Champions League match away against Aston Villa because they are Jewish, it’s because of the risk of public disorder.

This is the wrong decision.

We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.

The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.https://t.co/8aBeqE4qbA

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 16, 2025

And what might that risk be? Because many, football fans or not, cannot countenance the fact that while Russia, quite rightly, was, instantly banned from all Uefa competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel, while committing a genocide in Gaza, has not been. Protests outside Villa Park have been taking place against the game, entirely peacefully. There would have been protests on the night of the game, against Israel’s genocide, not against Jews. Again, a former DPP should know the difference.

Also, once more as a football fan, Sir Keir might be expected to know at least something about Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fans. They are notorious in Israel for their racism towards Arab players and clubs in the Israeli League. This would be akin to Arsenal fans taunting Spurs as a so-called ‘Jewish’ club, not because of a long-standing north London football rivalry. An analogy Sir Keir the gooner would surely understand, and actions he’d condemn.

Maccabi fans export all of this, mixing their racism and hooliganism. This was evident most recently in Amsterdam just a year ago, for their November 2024 Europa League game against Ajax. It was widely reported but Sir Keir once again seems to have missed all of it. Funny that, I thought he was a football fan?

No fan likes to see away supporters banned. The rivalry inside the stadium is part of what makes being there so special. But sometimes bans are imposed for public-safety reasons. That’s the reason for this ban, not antisemitism. Sir Keir should take down his tweet and apologise. I won’t be holding my breath.

Mark Perryman is the co-founder of the self-styled ‘sporting outfitters of intellectual distinction’ AKA Philosophy Football.