West Midlands police insist decision to ban Maccabi fans ‘not politically influenced’ | Police

Police chiefs facing scrutiny over the decision to ban supporters of the Israeli football team from attending a match in Birmingham insisted the move was not politically influenced.

West Midlands police (WMP) leaders defended their stance at the home affairs committee on Tuesday after being recalled to give further evidence over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa on November 6.

Fans of the Israeli football team have been banned from attending a match at Villa Park by the local Security Advisory Group (SAG), citing security concerns, on the advice of the police force.

Members of the home affairs committee on Tuesday hailed parts of the force’s new statement before them with anger, recalling West Midlands police chief Craig Guildford and commanders involved in the decision-making process.

Police said they had intelligence that Israeli fans would be the main perpetrators of this trouble, but this claim is disputed.

The cross-party committee of MPs said parts of the intelligence gathering appeared “one-sided”, overestimating the threat posed by Maccabi fans while underestimating the threat from those in Birmingham angered by Israeli attacks on Gaza.

They said SAG meeting minutes showed pressure from two councilors who said away fans should not attend the match.

While intelligence was being gathered ahead of the match, a document contained claims that locals in Birmingham could “arm” themselves.

WMP assistant chief constable Mike O’Hara said: “There were people online claiming to be Maccabi fans and provoking members of the local community and saying ‘this is what you’re going to get’. It was all part of the heat of the situation, so commanders tried to make the right decision based on that.”

This fixture has been classed as high risk by WMP and the force has cited violent clashes and hate crime offenses during a 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.

However, Dutch police disputed the accuracy of this information.

Guildford denied that he or the police force were politically motivated to find evidence to justify the ban.

“From everything I have read and the commanders I have spoken to, I do not believe there was political influence on this decision.

“I’m sure a lot of local politicians and local members of the community wanted to try and influence this, but frankly I don’t think they were impressed,” he told the committee.

Guildford defended committee chair Karen Bradley’s claims that police were trying to “dig” for a reason to justify the ban.

“I’m really sorry if it came across that way. That was definitely not the case,” he said.

Appearing before MPs, Birmingham council leader John Cotton refused to comment on whether he had confidence in Guildford. He said: “I have concerns about the quality of the material supplied to SAG.”

At the second evidentiary hearing, Bradley concluded by telling Guildford that his colleagues would prepare a report. Committee sources think this will be critical.

The internal affairs committee’s report is one of several reports on the incident; some argue that the ban panders to antisemitism.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has been ordered by the Home Secretary to investigate intelligence provided by WMP.

Keir Starmer, like opposition parties, condemned the ban, which came shortly after a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester that killed two worshipers.

Maccabi Tel Aviv refused to allocate tickets.