West Midlands Police (WMP) leaders have defended their decision to ban fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, insisting the move was not politically motivated. The police chiefs were recalled to give further evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, facing scrutiny over the ban imposed on 6 November.
The ban was implemented by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which cited safety concerns based on police advice. Committee members expressed outrage at parts of the force's testimony, accusing them of presenting 'one-sided' intelligence that inflated the threat from Maccabi fans while downplaying risks to them from locals angered by Israel's actions in Gaza.
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara stated that intelligence suggested Maccabi fans might be the main perpetrators of trouble, a claim disputed by the committee. He cited online posts where individuals purporting to be Maccabi fans goaded local community members. The fixture was classified high risk, partly due to alleged violent clashes during a match in Amsterdam, though Dutch police have disputed the accuracy of that information.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford denied any political influence, saying, 'I do not believe that there was political influence on that decision.' He rejected suggestions that the force was 'scraping' to justify the ban. Birmingham council leader John Cotton expressed concerns about the quality of material provided to the SAG but declined to comment on confidence in Guildford.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called Guildford's position 'untenable', accusing the force of misleading the committee. The Home Affairs Committee is expected to produce a critical report, while His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has been ordered to investigate the intelligence presented by WMP.
