MP calls for Government to cancel controversial Aston Villa fixture in emotional address outside Villa Park
Aston Villa will look to start their Europa League season in two weeks’ time against Bologna.
Villa are yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season and sit 19th in the table, meaning Unai Emery could be forced into making some big changes to his side.
New signing Harvey Elliott scored against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, yet an exit from that competition means Villa will have put most of their focus towards the Europa League.
However, a local MP has made a claim to call off one of Aston Villa’s upcoming Europa League matches.
MP Ayoub Khan calls on UEFA to cancel Maccabi Tel Aviv match
Ayoub Khan, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, has called for UEFA, the UK Culture Minister, and the club itself to cancel Villa’s Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November at Villa Park.
In a video on X, Khan has asked for the game to be “urgently” cancelled, and has started a petition to stop the Israeli club playing in the West Midlands.
Khan’s post says: “We are calling on UEFA, the UK Culture Minister, and the club itself to urgently cancel this fixture or take immediate steps to ensure public safety and community harmony.”
In the following video of him standing outside Villa Park, the former Aston councillor added: “Many residents have raised concerns about the football match, which is due to take place on 6 November, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“We’ve all seen those harrowing images from Amsterdam.
“I’ve started a petition to boycott Maccabi Tel Aviv. There is no space for violence, or any thugs, to come into Aston, or indeed Birmingham.”
Last November, violence erupted on the streets of Amsterdam when Maccabi played Ajax in the Europa League.
Amid huge tensions over the situation in Gaza, Tel Aviv fans were filmed pulling Palestinian flags from houses in the Dutch capital and making racist chants against Arabs.
There were also reports of plans for Israeli football fans to be attacked, with antisemitism being recorded in videos, as per the Washington Post.
Seven people were hospitalised as a result of the violence, and over 60 people were arrested by the police.
Aston Villa face tough Europa League draw
Villa have been handed an incredibly tough draw, with matches against Feyenoord and Fenerbahce standing out.
- Red Bull Salzburg (H)
- Feyenoord (A)
- Maccabi Tel-Aviv (H)
- Fenerbahce (A)
- Young Boys (H)
- Basel (A)
- Bologna (H)
- Go Ahead Eagles (A)
Having made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last year, Emery’s side will be looking at the Europa League as a way of getting back into Europe’s elite competition.
However, with UEFA called upon to act on the 6 November fixture, who knows how Villa’s European exploits will go?
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