The Crisis Room Q&A: Maccabi Tel Aviv, New York Mayor & Le Carré's view on spies
Nov 3, 2025
Join Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA operations officer, as he dives into pressing national security issues and political dynamics. He critiques the recent decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from matches and reveals its American ramifications. Discussing strategies against Russian grey-zone tactics, Marc emphasizes European unity. He shares insights on the intricacies of multi-agency emergency responses and predicts the New York mayoral race outcome, examining Zohran Mamdani's platform amidst Le Carré's critique of intelligence accountability.
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Resourcing Drove The Controversial Ban
- The Maccabi Tel Aviv ban revealed weaknesses in planning and resource allocation by local police.
- Amber Rudd argues sufficient inter-force resources could have kept visiting fans safe if deployed earlier.
Safety Fears Signal Deeper Social Fractures
- Mark Urban found it disturbing that safety advice suggested Israeli fans might be unsafe attending.
- He highlighted the worrying implication that community consent to policing may be breaking down.
US Reaction: Wouldn't Happen In New York
- Marc Polymeropoulos reported the story made headlines in the US and shocked observers.
- He contrasted UK responses with New York City's large police capacity, saying this wouldn't happen there.