Senior police leaders from the West Midlands have been hauled before a parliamentary committee for a second time to defend their controversial decision to bar supporters of an Israeli football club from attending a match in Birmingham.
MPs Express Outrage Over 'One-Sided' Intelligence
West Midlands Police's Chief Constable, Craig Guildford, and several commanders were recalled to give further evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The hearing centred on the force's involvement in the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 6 November.
MPs on the cross-party committee reacted with outrage to parts of the new testimony. They argued that the intelligence gathering appeared "one sided", allegedly exaggerating the threat posed by the Israeli fans while downplaying risks to them from individuals in Birmingham angered by the conflict in Gaza.
Police Defend High-Risk Classification
Police stated they had intelligence suggesting Maccabi fans would be the main perpetrators of trouble, a claim that has been disputed. Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara cited online goading from people purporting to be Maccabi fans as part of the "heat of the situation."
The force classified the match as high-risk, pointing to alleged violent incidents during a Maccabi game in Amsterdam in 2024. However, Dutch police have contested the accuracy of this information. Committee chair Karen Bradley suggested it felt like the force was "scraping" for reasons to justify the ban, a charge Guildford strongly denied.
Political Influence Denied Amid Multiple Probes
Guildford firmly rejected any suggestion of political motivation. "From everything that I've read, and the commanders that I spoke to, I do not believe that there was political influence on that decision," he told MPs.
This incident has sparked several investigations. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has been ordered by the Home Secretary to probe the intelligence used. The committee itself is preparing a report expected to be critical. The ban, which occurred shortly after a deadly terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue, has been denounced by Labour leader Keir Starmer and opposition parties, with some suggesting it capitulated to antisemitism.
Birmingham Council leader John Cotton declined to express confidence in Guildford, stating he had concerns about the quality of material provided to the SAG. Maccabi Tel Aviv ultimately declined their ticket allocation for the match.
