West Midlands Police under scrutiny for intelligence used to ban Israeli fans

Members of Parliament have called on West Midlands Police (WMP) to provide a detailed explanation regarding the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their club’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on 6 November. The move followed a report in the Sunday Times, which alleged that police had overstated the threat posed by the visiting fans.

The newspaper claimed that WMP relied on intelligence suggesting that some Maccabi supporters were “highly organised, skilled fighters” and that 500–600 fans had targeted Muslim communities during a previous fixture in Amsterdam. Dutch authorities, however, have denied such incidents occurred.

---

Parliamentary Pressure

In the House of Commons, Conservative MP Nick Timothy called for the publication of all intelligence material and evidence considered by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which is responsible for safety assessments at major events.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp warned that unless WMP can justify its actions, Chief Constable Craig Guildford should consider resigning. Home Office Minister Sarah Jones confirmed she had written to WMP to seek clarity and that the Home Office had requested His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services to investigate the decision-making process further.

Jones said the force was conducting a debrief and would publish “a timeline of events, the decisions taken and the rationale for the recommendations provided to the SAG.”

---

Police Response

West Midlands Police defended their evaluation, insisting that public safety was the priority. A spokesperson stated:
“West Midlands Police’s evaluation was based primarily on information and intelligence and had public safety at its heart. We assessed the fixture between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam as having involved significant public disorder. We met with Dutch police on 1 October, where information relating to that 2024 fixture was shared with us.”

The force concluded that a sub-section of Maccabi supporters posed a “credible threat to public safety,” and maintained that their policing strategy was “effective, proportionate and maintained the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”

More than 700 officers were deployed during the Villa-Maccabi match, highlighting the scale of policing involved.

---

Context and Public Reaction

The incident has sparked debate over the accuracy of intelligence assessments and the role of police in making preemptive decisions about fan attendance. Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv and observers of football governance have questioned whether the reported threats justified a full fan ban.

The Safety Advisory Group—comprised of council and police experts—has come under particular scrutiny, as MPs seek transparency in how intelligence reports influence public event safety decisions.

This controversy follows ongoing concerns in UK football regarding fan safety, policing practices, and the management of away supporters, especially in matches involving international teams.