The match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League became one of the most talked-about fixtures in England in recent years – not because of football. Birmingham police's decision to ban the champions' fans from entering England's second-largest city stirred media outlets and local football supporters.
Selwyn Tash, a 73-year-old Jew who served as legal counsel for the prestigious Tottenham club for 22 years (2001-2023), is well-versed in English football and the changes the country has undergone over the past two decades.
In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom ahead of the match, he admitted, "From my perspective, the ban on letting in Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is shameful." Tash explained, "You mustn't mix politics and sports. This is part of a trend expanding in Britain and elsewhere, aimed at isolating Israel and turning it into a social pariah, generally, and in sports specifically. Also in entertainment events like Eurovision."
Q: Do you know anyone from the Jewish community who will attend the match?
"As a Jew born in London and living here my entire life, I need to take special precautions. This is the first time I feel this way. For example, there are pro-Palestinian marches in central London almost every Saturday, an area we must stay away from. There are no similar protests against the mass killings in Sudan and Nigeria. This doesn't have much connection to football. The decision was made minutes after the match was set, based on what happened to Maccabi fans in Amsterdam and Derby. This is a connection between sports and politics, as happened in the past in South Africa, and it's terrible in my eyes.
"Decision-makers found a way to justify the narrative – and that's what happened in Amsterdam. They claim Maccabi fans are hooligans and thus changed the story. My uncle lives in Herzliya, and a friend of his was at the match against Ajax. He told me what happened in Amsterdam, how they chased Jews in the streets. Ultimately, I think Maccabi made the right decision when it gave up the tickets and looked after its fans."
Q: Should Jews be afraid to attend?
"Not because they're Jews. Birmingham is England's second-largest city, but it has a large immigrant community, mainly Muslim. I don't think any Jew who is an Aston Villa fan would be afraid to go to matches. However, if an Israeli flag were on their shoulders – that's a risk that shouldn't be taken."
Q: Will there be protests before the match?
"There might be. They take words and compare them to Jews: 'genocide,' 'starvation,' everything the Jewish people suffered from in Europe. They see world Zionism as 'dirty,' and they have no idea. When I ask people what the phrase 'from the river to the sea' means, they don't know which sea we're talking about or which river exists in Palestine. The term 'free Palestine' is modern antisemitism."
"Hostage flags are torn down"
Selwyn Tash defines himself as a "Spurs forever," due to his support for Tottenham – the club most identified with the Jewish community in England. Therefore, the storm surrounding the match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv is close to his heart. "It's disturbing that yellow flags hung in the city to support the hostages are torn down daily," he said painfully. "I don't know anyone who intends to go to the match. I understand there will be 700 police officers on duty, there will be anti-Israeli protesters outside the stadium, and some of them inside will wave PLO flags. The decision was made without proper consultation. The ban was part of an anti-Zionist campaign that is not only anti-Israeli but also anti-Jewish. It's supported by Muslim politicians who used the alleged violence of Maccabi fans as an excuse. This country has principles of freedom of expression and freedom of worship. This is a multicultural society that must protect the interests of its entire community, not just pro-Hamas Muslims. That's why there was so much anger in parliament and elsewhere. This isn't just football, it's far beyond that."
