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Speaking on a visit to Birmingham to attend the Regional Investment Summit on Tuesday (October 21), Ms Nandy said people should be free to attend football matches safely, adding the sport should bring people together. Despite her disappointment, she added she respected the Israeli club owner’s decision. Last week Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group announced away fans would be banned from the Europa League fixture on November 6. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We’re saddened the owner of Maccabi Tel Aviv felt he couldn’t accept the away allocation but we really respect the decision. “For our part as a Government we’re absolutely clear, people have to be free to walk the streets, attend football matches without fear of reprisal. “We’ve been working very closely with West Midlands Police and the local council to make sure this game goes ahead and it goes ahead safely. It’s a fundamental principle at stake. “People are free to protest peacefully, theyre not to attend matches if they have an objeciton, not to buy products that they object to. “What they are not free to do is to say to others you’re not safe to be able to attend a football match. “Football should be about bringing people together, bringing great joy to people and as a Government we’re determined that is a principle we will uphold.” Before attending the investment summit, Ms Nandy also visited Digbeth Loc. Studios where two new ambitious projects were announced. The first project, the Warwick Bar Prospectus, sets out a vision of an area covering the size of 22 football pitches with the potential of 1,700 new homes and 110,000sq ft of creative workspaces. And the second project saw the announcement of Production Central WM, which is a new film production office to connect producers with set locations, local crew and suppliers needed to bring more big and small screen blockbusters to the region. Ms Nandy: “I think Birmingham is an amazing city, it’s vibrant, it’s diverse, it’s able to attract people from all over the country, all over the world and people who come from different religions and backgrounds. “People live side by side, work side by side and help to make it such a vibrant exciting place to live. “We’re determined to stand up for that city and people who seek to come to Birmingham and divide people don’t represent the true story of this city. “And we’re determined to back major projects such as the Digbeth Loc. film studios, like the world class football you see being played in this city and like the major sporting tournaments Birmingham is about to go on and host.”
