West Midlands Police (WMP) have clarified that members of the Jewish community were not consulted or supportive of the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 6 November 2025.

The issue arose after Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Mike O’Hara indicated during a parliamentary hearing that some Jewish representatives were concerned about Maccabi fans attending the fixture. His remarks were widely reported, prompting criticism and confusion over whether the Jewish community had supported the exclusion of Israeli supporters.

“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,” a police spokesperson said.

ACC O’Hara Issues Apology

ACC O’Hara subsequently wrote a letter to local Jewish representatives apologizing for any misunderstanding. The letter acknowledged that his previous statements had caused consternation and clarified that no Jewish community members had explicitly requested the ban.

“There were a number of questions asked, often with several parts and secondary points. Please can I apologise and make very clear that it was not my intention to imply that there were members of the Jewish community who had explicitly expressed support for the exclusion of Maccabi fans,” O’Hara wrote.

The force also confirmed it would continue engaging with the Jewish community to rebuild trust and clearly communicate its decision-making processes.

Background of the Fan Ban

The decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters was taken by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which includes representatives from the council and police. It was classified as a high-risk fixture due to intelligence indicating potential disorder, as well as prior incidents at European matches.

Before the game, hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters gathered outside Villa Park, waving banners and flags. More than 700 officers were deployed, but the match passed off without serious incidents, and only a handful of arrests were made.

Dutch Intelligence and Disputed Claims

In parliamentary evidence, Chief Constable Craig Guildford said WMP had relied on intelligence provided by Dutch police commanders, who described Maccabi “ultras” as well-organized and militaristic, citing clashes with local communities during previous matches.

However, later reports, including from the Sunday Times and Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, indicated that some of this intelligence was inaccurate or exaggerated. For instance, only a single flag had been torn down, and only one minor incident with a taxi driver was confirmed prior to the match.

Political and Community Response

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, expressed anger at the fan ban, emphasizing that antisemitism would not be tolerated and that all football supporters should enjoy matches without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Ruth Jacobs, chair of the Birmingham and West Midlands Jewish Community, has previously criticized the process, noting that the community was not consulted and that the incident undermined trust between local authorities and Jewish residents.

West Midlands Police have stated they will engage further with local communities to ensure transparency and to prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.