Left-wing MP faces cries of 'shame' after sparking row over comments on Israeli fan ban

A hard-Left MP faced cries of "shame" as she claimed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had taken part in "Israel's genocide". Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana claimed the "racist fan hooliganism cannot be separated from Israeli militarism", prompting furious scenes in the House of Commons.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy slapped down the comments, warning Ms Sultana that "conflating being Jewish and Israeli is, I'm afraid to say in itself, antisemitism". Ms Sultana said: "Maccabi Tel Aviv's racist fan hooliganism cannot be separated from Israeli militarism. Many of these fans are active or former soldiers who have taken part in Israel's genocide in Gaza.

"They should be investigated for war crimes the moment they set foot onto British soil, not welcomed into our stadiums.

"Let's be clear, this Labour Government is no innocent bystander. It has armed Israel's genocide, provided diplomatic cover, and shamefully denied genocide is even taking place.

"Is there anything this Labour Government won't do to defend the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel?"

Ms Sultana faced cries of "shame" and "what?" as she made her speech.

Ms Nandy hit back: "She's doing the people of Birmingham no favours with that sort of rhetoric.

"When it comes to the conflation that she makes between all of the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and the actions of the Israeli government, that is precisely what the honourable gentleman was talking about, about blaming in many cases British citizens who happen to support Maccabi Tel Aviv for actions that are taking place in the Middle East.

"Conflating being Jewish and Israeli is, I'm afraid to say in itself, antisemitism.

"I think she should take more care of her remarks."

Local authorities had said last week that Maccabi fans would be blocked from attending the November 6 game in Birmingham, with West Midlands Police classifying the fixture as high-risk based on "current intelligence and previous incidents".

The force pointed to violent clashes and hate-crime offences that occurred during the 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.

Sir Keir Starmer called the move to bar fans attending "wrong" and said "we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets", while the Tories, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK also criticised the decision.

Downing Street said the UK Football Policing Unit was "reaching out" to Israeli authorities "to gain an understanding of what happened" on Sunday.

In a post on X on Sunday night, Birmingham MP Ayoub Khan said: "Shame on you Keir Starmer and shame on you Kemi Badenoch and all the other politicians and news anchors that sought to conflate matters ... this was never about religion, it was always about hooliganism."

He demanded that the Prime Minister apologise to chief constable of the West Midlands Craig Guildford, adding: "It is shameful that not a single politician here in Birmingham bar me stood by his decision."

The Government is expecting West Midlands Police to set out early next week what they would need to police the game safely with both sets of fans present.

And Ms Nandy said resources will not determine whether Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans can attend a match in Birmingham next month.

Responding to an urgent question from the Tories, she told the Commons: "This decision was not made in a vacuum. It is set against the backdrop of rising antisemitism here and across the world, and an attack on a synagogue in Manchester in which two innocent men were killed.

"It has a real world impact on a community who already feel excluded and afraid. It is therefore completely legitimate to support the independence of the police to conduct that risk assessment and to question the conclusion that follows when it excludes the people at the heart of that risk.

"Following the decision last week, the Government has been working with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to support them to consider all the options available, and to tell us what resources are needed to manage the risks, to ensure fans from both teams can attend safely.

"If the assessment is revised, the safety advisory group will meet again to discuss options."

She added: "It is not for the Government to assess the risks surrounding this football match, but we are clear that resources will not be the determining factor in whether Maccabi Tel Aviv fans can be admitted, and that this fundamental principle that nobody in our country will be excluded from participating in public life because of who they are must be upheld."