Last night’s decision by Maccabi Tel Aviv to not take up its allocation of away tickets is deeply depressing. The statements of principle that have come from across the political spectrum, arguing that it is wrong to ban Jewish fans because of the sectarian bigotry of many in that area, are now irrelevant. Castigation of West Midlands police for deciding it was easier to tell Jews to stay away than to protect them is now wasted breath. And the work of ministers to try to facilitate the fans’ attendance has now been shown to be ineffectual.

It is now unarguable that anti-Semitism is out of hand

But appalling as it is that Britain is now a county that refuses to protect visiting Jews from the mob, the decision by Maccabi Tel Aviv does have one benefit: it brings clarity to the situation.

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