Police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans over safety fears in Birmingham

West Midlands Police Face Criticism Over Ban on Israeli Football Fans

West Midlands Police have been accused of “appeasement” after admitting they banned Israeli football fans from Birmingham due to fears of community attacks.

During a Commons home affairs committee meeting, senior police officials justified the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa on 6 November last year. This decision sparked political outrage, with Sir Keir Starmer expressing anger over it.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara stated that the decision was “based on safety” and denied any conspiracy.

Concerns About Community Violence

New documents revealed concerns that community groups in Birmingham might arm themselves. The match was classified as high risk by West Midlands Police due to “current intelligence and previous incidents.” The force cited violent clashes and hate crimes during a 2024 Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam. However, the Netherlands Police disputed the information in a West Midlands Police report that justified the ban.

O’Hara denied that West Midlands Police relied solely on Dutch police intelligence. He noted “a huge degree of consternation” from the community regarding the arrival of Maccabi fans.

Intelligence and Community Reactions

O’Hara admitted there was intelligence suggesting that people would seek out Maccabi fans to harm them. He explained, “There was a range of options available,” but the challenge was that Maccabi fans might target the local community.

Tory MP Nick Timothy criticized the police, claiming they chose appeasement after the mob said Israeli fans were unwelcome. He accused senior officers of lying and failing to confront “extreme elements” in the communities they serve.

Changes in Risk Assessment

Documents from safety advisory group meetings showed that the police downgraded the risk to Maccabi fans to medium while upgrading the risk to the local community to high. Timothy stated, “The police fitted the evidence to suit the predetermined decisions.”

MPs on the committee expressed confusion over the ban and noted that crucial meeting notes were not kept. Dame Karen Bradley, the Tory chair of the committee, remarked that it seemed the police needed to justify the ban.

Errors in Information and Planning

In a further embarrassment, senior police admitted the ban was based on incorrect information from a Google search related to a match with West Ham in 2023. They also acknowledged not documenting conversations with Dutch police and making assumptions about officer numbers needed for the event.

West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford defended the intelligence provided to the committee, stating it was based on the information received. He explained that a mistake occurred due to one individual’s Google search.

Unique Circumstances and Future Actions

Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UK football policing unit, noted that the threat was unique. He explained that some Maccabi fans might seek confrontation with the local community, which was different from typical away fan situations.

Sir Keir condemned the ban as “the wrong decision.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered the policing watchdog to review how forces in England and Wales conduct risk assessments for safety advisory groups regarding high-profile events.