A decision by Britain’s Safety Advisory Group to bar visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending an upcoming Europa League match at Aston Villa’s Villa Park has sparked outrage, with British-Israeli released hostage and soccer enthusiast Emily Damari calling it “shocking” and “disgusting.”
“I was released from Hamas captivity in January and I am a die-hard fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv,” said Damari, who also supports Tottenham Hotspur. “I am shocked to my core with this outrageous decision to ban me, my family and my friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the U.K.”
The game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, in Birmingham. Authorities reportedly cited concerns over potential unrest after last year’s Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam ended in violence. However, Damari dismissed those fears outright.
“Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, color or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite,” she said on Friday. “Shame on you. I hope you come to your senses and reconsider.”
Damari added, “I do wonder what exactly has become of UK society. This is like putting a big sign on the outside of a stadium saying: ‘No Jews allowed.’ What has become of the U.K. where blatant antisemitism has become the norm? What a sad world we are living in.”
Her remarks have drawn support from several British politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who echoed concerns over the exclusion of Israeli fans.
Damari, a dual British-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She was shot in the hand and leg—losing two fingers—and became widely known after her release for raising her bandaged hand in defiance, symbolizing survival and resilience.
