A Tel Aviv derby match was cancelled on Sunday after "public disorder and violent riots" between rival fans, bolstering a decision by West Midlands police to ban away supporters from a European fixture in Birmingham next month between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Aston Villa and the police force have been under fire from the UK political establishment for a decision to bar Maccabi fans from a Europa Cup match on 6 November amid fears of violence from the Israeli side.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans went on a rampage last year in Amsterdam, attacking pro-Palestine protesters and locals, along with chanting racist slogans against Arabs.
The attacks led to reprisals, particularly from Dutch-Arab locals, after property was vandalised and residents were assaulted, although Israeli media framed the incident as "antisemitic".
Police in Birmingham, a city with a large Muslim population, fear similar violence, particularly with Maccabi Tel Aviv's history of violence and genocidal chants against Gaza.
The UK government is trying to reverse the ban, which has been criticised by Israeli ministers and UEFA. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others have also framed the ban as "antisemitic".
Ayoub Khan, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, who backed West Midlands Police's decision to ban Maccabi fans, demanded Starmer apologise for his public criticisms of those fearing violence in light of the rioting in Israel.
"Kier (sic) Starmer you owe an apology! And to all those that have been libellous wait for my letter before action!" he said in a tweet, accompanied by a video.
"Shame on you Keir Starmer, and shame on you (leader of the opposition) Kemi Badenoch and all the other politicians and news anchors that sought to conflate matters... labelling our West Midlands Police and the Safety Advisory Group as anti-semitic. This was never about religion, it was about hooligans."
The New Arab has approached the UK Government to ask if they have changed their stance since Sunday's violence in Tel Aviv.
The match in Tel Aviv was called off after what a police spokesman described as "disorderly conduct, riots, the hurling of objects, smoke grenades, fireworks, injured officers and damage to the stadium infrastructure".
Speaking to public broadcaster Kan, he said: "This is not a soccer game: this is severe disorder and violence."
After the police order, the Bloomfield Stadium, the home ground for both teams, was evacuated, with police on horseback intervening to control the 30,000 fans.
Hapoel's management was infuriated by the police decision and tactics.
"From the preliminary discussions before the game, it seemed that the police were preparing for a war rather than a sports event," the club said in a statement published on social media.
"Everyone saw the harsh videos, children trampled by horses, police officers beating fans indiscriminately."
The club accused the police of taking over the sport and demanded football authorities regain control.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also seized upon the incident to attack Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
"To the endless list of failures of the incompetent minister Itamar Ben Gvir, tonight was added the inability to facilitate a soccer game in the State of Israel," Lapid posted on social media.
(AFP and TNA staff)