Petition with 25,000 signatures calls for Israel football ban in UK

A petition containing 25,000 signatures has been delivered to England's Football Association demanding Israel's exclusion from international football competitions and the cancellation of an upcoming UEFA Europa League match. The petition, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, calls for banning Israeli teams from international football in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Political Context and Delivery

Campaign director Lewis Backon personally delivered the petition to the Football Association headquarters at Wembley Stadium, stating that teams from nations "responsible for genocide and apartheid should not be playing in international football competitions." The petition specifically targets Thursday's scheduled match between English club Aston Villa and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League tournament.

Security Measures for Scheduled Match

Despite the petition, the match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv is proceeding under heightened security protocols. West Midlands Police have classified the event as "high risk" based on current intelligence assessments and previous incidents. The Safety Advisory Group, comprising police representatives, local authorities, and security experts, has prohibited away fans from attending the match at Villa Park stadium.

Broader Implications

The petition represents growing public pressure on sporting institutions to take political stances regarding international conflicts. Similar campaigns have emerged globally seeking to exclude Israeli teams from international competitions, though football governing bodies have generally maintained that sports should remain separate from political disputes.