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Maccabi Tel Aviv to decline tickets for European tie at Aston Villa | The Express Tribune
JERUSALEM:
Maccabi Tel Aviv will decline any tickets offered to their fans for a Europa League away match at Aston Villa, the Israeli club announced Monday.
The local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) covering Villa Park in Birmingham, in central England, last week blocked visiting fans from attending the November 6 match following a police risk assessment.
That decision drew widespread political criticism, including from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with widespread calls for the ruling to be reversed.
The British government said Friday it was working to allow Israeli fans to attend.
But a statement on the Maccabi Tel Aviv website said: “The wellbeing and safety of our fans is paramount and, from hard lessons learned, we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans, and our decision should be understood in that context.
“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
The announcement came only a day after Israeli police called off the Israeli Premier League match between Maccabi and city rivals Hapoel because of “riots” between rival fans.
Maccabi insisted their supporters were not involved in the unrest, while their statement questioned the motivation of those leading calls for a ban on away fans.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the UK government and police to ensure both sets of fans can attend the match safely, and are grateful for the messages of support from across the footballing community and society at large,” said the club.
“Our first-team squad consists of Muslims, Christian and Jewish players and our fan base also crosses the ethnic and religious divide. We have also been working tirelessly to stamp out racism within the more extreme elements of our fan base.”
Game ‘weaponised’ to stoke violence
The statement added: “It is clear that various entrenched groups seek to malign the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base, most of whom have no truck with racism or hooliganism of any kind, and are exploiting isolated incidents for their own social and political ends.
“As a result of the hate-filled falsehoods, a toxic atmosphere has been created, which makes the safety of our fans wishing to attend very much in doubt.”
A British government spokesperson, responding to Maccabi’s announcement, said: “We are deeply saddened Maccabi Tel Aviv have turned down their away fan allocation but we respect their right to do so.
“It is completely unacceptable that this game has been weaponised to stoke violence and fear by those who seek to divide us.
“We will never tolerate antisemitism or extremism on our streets.”
Earlier, UK Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy told the House of Commons the final decision must ultimately be made by the police.
However, she also said the country “should be appalled” that the initial assessment was “based in no small part on the risk posed to those fans that are attending who support Maccabi because they are Israeli, and because they are Jewish”.
West Midlands Police last week classified the fixture as “high risk”.
They said the decision was “based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam”.
Birmingham has been the scene of pro-Palestinian rallies since the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas began.
A number of British left-wing independent and Green politicians backed the ban, with some calling for the wider exclusion of Israeli teams from international competitions due to the government’s actions in Gaza.
Earlier this month, two Jewish men died in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester, England, that police linked to Islamist extremism.
Sports
US Olympic medalists MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogsead join activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics
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EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. women’s Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have signed with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, aligning themselves with the mission to advocate for the protection of women’s sports from biological male transgender athletes.
Skinner, who won silver in vault at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, spoke up about the issue earlier this year, and is now taking a harder stance.
“I am excited to partner with [XX-XY Athletics founder] Jennifer Sey and her pro-woman XX-XY Athletics to tell my story as an athlete and a woman,” Skiner told Fox News Digital.
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Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team United States pose for a photo during Women’s Podium Training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Finding my voice has been hard — there’s no training for that. But every female athlete should find and use hers. No one trains you for moral courage or unwavering positivity — that’s a different kind of journey. I’m going to share that too. Why? To use my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes. But really, this is for my daughter.”
Skinner joins the brand after previously speaking out against her former teammate Simone Biles back in June.
After Biles ignited a social media feud with fomer NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines for posting about a trans softball pitcher who won a Minnesota girls’ state title, Skinner was quick to side with Gaines publicly. Skinner now joins the same brand championed by Gaines, who was XX-XY Athletics’ first brand ambassador when it launched in 2024.
“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should elevate us — not diminish others. That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser’ — simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports,” Skinner said in a June statement.
“I commend and appreciate Riley Gaines for having the courage to speak up. Throughout my own career, I endured being belittled, dismissed and ostracized behind the scenes by Simone… It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to use your platform to bully and demean… We should be lifting each other up — not tearing one another down for speaking hard truths.”
SIMONE BILES DEFENDS CALLING OUT FORMER TEAMMATE: ‘IT WAS RIGHT IN THAT MOMENT’
Meanwhile, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist, is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. She has authored a petition to protect the women’s category with over 500 signatures.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Women’s Sports Foundation senior director of advocacy, attends the 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2012. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
Now, Hogshead joins XX-XY Athletics as the brand’s first Olympic gold medal brand ambassador.
“Only strict eligibility standards for girls’ and women’s sports can guarantee fair, safe and respectful competition for us,” Hogshead told Fox News Digital. “More than 500 Olympians & Paralympians are playing it forward by signed Champion Women’s petition; they understand the dedication required to succeed and firmly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.”
The two medalists headline the brand’s new campaign, “The Gold Medal Collection.” The campaign features other Team USA talent, including Taekwondo athlete Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady and swimmer Réka György.
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Former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner with Simone Biles (left) and former Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead (right). (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images, Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)
“As an athlete training to be the best in the world, I look up to women like Nancy and MyKayla, who’ve paved the way,” Bassett told Fox News Digital.
“But I also know it’s on my generation to speak up and protect the path. Every hour I’ve spent training has been to test myself against the best female athletes in the world. If I’m ever asked to compete against a male, I’ll refuse. The integrity of competition relies on a level playing field for every female athlete that invests her time, dedication and sacrifice in her pursuit of excellence.”
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Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly proposed holding a ceremony to present the Asia Cup 2025 trophy to India, which clinched the title last month.
The Indian team, acting on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, following their victory over Pakistan in the final on September 29.
The BCCI has since written a formal letter to the ACC chairman, requesting that the trophy be handed over to them.
In his response, the ACC chairman reportedly asked the BCCI to send an Indian player to attend a ceremony and collect the trophy from him.
The sources said that Naqvi remained firm on his stance that he would present the silverware during the ceremony.
The ACC has also proposed holding the ceremony on November 10 in Dubai, they added.
The development comes a month after the Indian team received backlash for consistently making political statements during last month’s Asia Cup.
Pundits slammed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for refusing the customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss for their game on September 14.
In the following two games, including the final, the two sides skipped handshakes and also stayed in separate huddles during the post-match ceremonies.
Following the final, BCCI officials said that they refused to collect the trophy because Naqvi was a minister in the federal government of Pakistan.
However, the ACC chairman stood firm on his decision to present the trophy himself, leading to a delay of around 90 minutes in the post-match ceremony.
With both sides refusing to back down from their positions, the ceremony concluded without the trophy being presented to the winners.
Resultantly, the organisers then took the silverware away and returned it to the ACC office.
India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 final after restricting them to 146 runs in 19.1 overs despite Sahibzada Farhan’s valiant half-century.
The Men in Blue chased down the 147-run target in 19.4 overs, losing five wickets in the process to claim the continental title.
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The agent of former NFL star Doug Martin provided clarity on the circumstances around his death on Monday as he released a statement on behalf of the late player’s family.
Athletes First CEO Brian Murphy said the retired running back was dealing with mental health issues in the days before authorities in California were requested to be involved by Martin’s family. Martin died on Saturday after an incident while in police custody.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) stretches before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
“Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” the statement read. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run.
“Following recent media reports about Doug’s untimely passing, the family wishes to clarify the circumstances. Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway.”
Oakland police also released more information about Martin’s death.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
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“Prior to his death, Martin was involved in a break-in at a residence in Oakland,” police said in a news release. “While responding officers were attempting to detain him, a brief struggle occurred. After being taken into custody, Martin became unresponsive.
“Paramedics responded to the scene, provided medical aid, and transported Martin to a local hospital, where he later died.”
Police said they have been in contact with Martin’s family since the incident on Saturday and the situation remained under investigation.
Martin’s death was announced on Sunday. He was 36.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on Dec. 17, 2017. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)
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He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders during his career.
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