West Midlands Police has issued an apology after a senior officer suggested members of the Jewish community supported the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a major football match. The force clarified it was never the intention to imply explicit community backing for the exclusion, which sparked significant political anger, including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Political Fallout from the Fan Exclusion
The decision, taken in early November 2024, prevented supporters of the Israeli team from attending the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham. This move by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (Sag), which includes the council and police, ignited a political firestorm. Sir Keir Starmer was reported to have been "angered by the decision."
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara, and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster were subsequently grilled by the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) on Monday. It was during this questioning that ACC Mike O'Hara told MPs that some Jewish community representatives had said they did not want Maccabi fans to attend.
Retraction and Community Engagement
Following the committee hearing, The Times reported that ACC O'Hara has written to Jewish community representatives in Birmingham to apologise. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police stated: "It was never the intention of the officer to imply that there were members of the Jewish community who had explicitly expressed support for the exclusion of Maccabi fans."
The force acknowledged this has been a difficult period and emphasised its ongoing engagement with the local Jewish community. They anticipate further follow-up with the HASC and have pledged to ensure their position is "clearly articulated" in future discussions.
Disputed Intelligence and International Criticism
The original ban was partly based on police intelligence that classified the match as high-risk. West Midlands Police cited alleged violent clashes and hate crime offences during Maccabi Tel Aviv's 2024 Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam as evidence of a potential threat to public safety in Birmingham.
However, this intelligence has been called into question. Dutch police have disputed the accuracy of the information regarding the Amsterdam incidents, as reported by The Sunday Times. The Israeli embassy in London condemned the police's use of what it called "disproven allegations," describing the action as "profoundly misleading, extremely troubling, and risks inflaming tensions."
The force has committed to cooperating fully with the Home Secretary's commissioned review by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). The incident has left a visible mark, with the away section at Villa Park remaining empty during the match in early November, a stark symbol of a decision that continues to reverberate through community and political circles.
