A Labour Member of Parliament representing Hillsborough families has expressed concerns about the disregard for safety issues at football grounds, labeling it a dangerous trend. Paula Barker, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, referenced the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy while questioning the government’s efforts to facilitate Israeli fans’ attendance at a forthcoming football match in Birmingham.
This discussion follows the exclusion of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from a Europa League game against Aston Villa due to safety apprehensions. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy assured that resources would be allocated to assist law enforcement in ensuring a secure environment for fans at the upcoming match. She criticized the decision’s bias against Israeli and Jewish fans and emphasized the importance of heeding safety warnings.
Ms. Barker drew parallels with the Hillsborough disaster, emphasizing the significance of not overlooking safety concerns, as was done the year prior to the tragic event. She criticized the government’s attempt to override safety advice and questioned the motivations behind such actions, pointing out a recent violent incident involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Israel.
In response, Ms. Nandy refuted claims of disregarding safety advice and emphasized the government’s commitment to collaborating with law enforcement to guarantee a safe environment for all attendees. She stressed the unprecedented nature of the decision to exclude away fans and condemned the discriminatory risk assessment based on fans’ nationality and religion.
Ms. Nandy further clarified that the decision was not solely about resources but about upholding the principle of inclusivity for all individuals in the country. She highlighted the backdrop of increasing antisemitism globally and recent tragic events, underscoring the necessity of police independence in conducting risk assessments.
The government’s collaboration with local authorities to address safety concerns and explore all available options was reiterated, with a commitment to revisiting assessments if necessary to ensure the safety of both sets of fans. Upholding the principle that no one should be excluded from public events based on their identity was emphasized as a core value.