Robert Kraft's Blue Square Alliance gathers sports leaders to combat antisemitism
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft discusses the messaging of the Blue Square Alliance as antisemitism rises in the U.S.
Israel Sport News
Villa cruise to win over Maccabi while Forest fail to break Sturm Graz
BIRMINGHAM, England :Aston Villa had little trouble securing a 2-0 home win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv thanks to goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen, while Nottingham Forest were held to a 0-0 draw at Sturm Graz, where Morgan Gibbs-White saw a first-half penalty saved.
Arrests made amid protests before Aston Villa-Maccabi Tel Aviv game
Six people have been arrested amid protests in Birmingham ahead of Aston Villa’s football match with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, police said.
UK police say Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned from Aston Villa match over hooliganism, not threats
LONDON: West Midlands Police have said their decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the club’s Europa League fixture against Aston Villa on Thursday was based on intelligence suggesting “significant levels of hooliganism” among a section of the Israeli club’s fan base, rather than concerns about threats to Israeli fans.
Tight UK security ahead of match against Israeli club
BIRMINGHAM, UK: More than 700 police deployed across the UK city of Birmingham Thursday for protests planned ahead of a football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa, with visiting Israeli fans barred. The UK government last month vowed to reverse the ban on Maccabi fans attending the Europa League match in the city in central England that has a significant Muslim population after widespread criticism of the decision taken by local safety advisers and police. However, the Israeli club later announced it would decline any tickets for its fans, citing safety concerns. Villa have said they are not selling tickets for the vacant away end of their Villa Park stadium. Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, has been the scene of regular pro-Palestinian rallies over the last two years. Close to Villa’s stadium on Thursday there was a large, visible police presence, an AFP correspondent saw. Local police said protests by different groups were scheduled Thursday near Villa Park, including a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding Israel be excluded from international football. A pro-Israeli group has also organized a Maccabi Solidarity Rally, with both protests set to kick off around 6:00 p.m.
France's Deschamps recalls Kante, Kolo Muani for World Cup qualifiers
PARIS :France coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday recalled several familiar faces for the national team’s final two World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan, including 2018 world champion N’Golo Kante and 2022 World Cup finalist Randal Kolo Muani.
Team Israel gymnasts speak out after being barred from World Championships by Indonesian government
sraeli national gymnastics team athletes Lihie Raz and Eyal Indig spoke about their experience being forced out of the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships after the Indonesian government denied their team visas to enter the country.
UK mounts big security operation before Villa play Israel's Maccabi
BIRMINGHAM, England :British police were mounting a large operation with 700 officers to prevent trouble in the city of Birmingham on Thursday where Aston Villa were to play Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.