When British Jews need metal fences at a football ground, something has gone profoundly wrong. Last night in Birmingham, that dystopian reality came to pass. Some brave British Jews attended the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match to show that our streets are still safe for Jews. They were proved catastrophically wrong. In deeply disturbing scenes, this small group was herded into a pen surrounded by high metal fences to protect them from a racist mob.

Protesters screamed “baby killers” through the metal wire as police looked on without taking action. A human zoo had been created for the entertainment of antisemites. Before we’re told this was about legitimate protest or football hooliganism, let’s establish what actually happened in Amsterdam — the supposed justification for Birmingham’s security theatre.

The UK government’s adviser on antisemitism, Lord John Mann, spent three days investigating with Dutch police. His conclusion: there were no violent clashes between fans. What happened was a Jew hunt, organised days in advance. People have been prosecuted — none of them Maccabi fans. Lord Mann advised Birmingham police and council accordingly. They ignored him.

So what was last night really about? A hooded man ranted “f*** every Jew here.” The crowd chanted “victory to the intifada” — the reality of intifada being the murder of Jews. Activist Shakeel Afsar led chants calling for “death, death to the IDF.”

Outside the ground, Sheikh Asrar Rashid said “go back to Poland” and that they should “show no mercy” to Maccabi fans. This is the same man who previously called Jews “monkeys and pigs” and said “Hitler did a favour for the Jews.”

In his speech, “Vote Gaza” MP Ayoub Khan claimed they are “a welcoming community.” Yet agitators held signs reading “Zionists not welcome.”

Let’s address the pretext. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been portrayed as uniquely violent, yet they hold a fraction of the UEFA sanctions of many European clubs. Maccabi has three sanctions. Celtic has twelve. Matches between far larger groups of rival fans are policed weekly across Britain.

Yet we’re told this fixture was beyond police capabilities. This is why Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the decision as “the wrong decision.”

Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce misrepresented the situation, portraying Maccabi fans as troublemakers. Because it’s easier to appease a violent mob than challenge hate.

The lessons learned: threaten violence and authorities will accommodate you. The cost? Jewish and non-Jewish families too frightened to attend a football match.

The police will be pleased there was no widespread trouble across Birmingham. But on the question of whether British Jews can safely exist in British public spaces, extremists got their answer — and so did we all.