The chief executive of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv says it is incredibly sad away fans have been banned from his side's Europa League match at Aston Villa.
Politics should never be drawn into football, Jack Angelides told BBC Sport.
Last month, the local Safety Advisory Group, responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches, informed Villa that no travelling fans would be allowed to attend the fixture in Birmingham after police raised concerns, sparking a major backlash.
The decision became the focus of parliamentary-level debate and Maccabi later said supporters would not travel to Birmingham for safety reasons.
It became a political issue and we're not a pawn in a political game, we're a football club, said Angelides after his squad arrived in the city.
Our strengths are running a football club and playing football. It's incredibly sad and I think it's a concerning and a worrying sign.
Angelides added he feels there seems to be a desire to perpetuate myths and falsehoods around Maccabi Tel Aviv and its fans.
It has taken away the normal excitement and looking forward to playing a European match, he said.
Six weeks ago, there was a chance the game might not go ahead, with calls for Israeli teams to be removed from international competitions because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
But once a ceasefire was agreed last month, it became clear Maccabi Tel Aviv - the only Israeli club to reach the league stage of European competition this season - would stay in the Europa League.
West Midlands Police said its high-risk assessment of the fixture was based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violence at a past match.
Angelides insisted that his club's fans were not to blame, adding he does not fully understand why they have been banned. He discussed the risk to Maccabi fans traveling to the match, acknowledging the societal tensions leading up to the fixture.
Protests organized by pro-Palestinian groups are planned near Villa Park, highlighting the political context surrounding the match.
More than 700 police officers are expected to be deployed during the event, ensuring safety and maintaining order in light of anticipated protests.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has been playing its home games abroad for safety reasons, which Angelides believes has set the stage for their players to compete with less support than typical.
Angelides remains focused on the match, expressing confidence in his team's readiness despite challenging circumstances.
