Police Forced to Apologise for False Claims Over Jewish Support in Fan Ban
West Midlands Police have been caught out claiming Birmingham’s Jewish community backed the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans — and now they’ve had to apologise to MPs for getting it wrong.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford admitted to the Home Affairs Select Committee there was “no documented feedback from Jewish representatives” before the ban was slapped on for Aston Villa’s Europa League game on November 6, 2025.
Earlier, Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara hinted some in the Jewish community quietly agreed with the ban. But the force now admits private opinions don’t count as evidence to publicly claim they supported the decision.
Police Chiefs Called Back to Parliament as Backlash Grows
Last December, ACC O’Hara told MPs Jewish community members “did not want Maccabi fans to attend,” sparking fury and a demand for answers from Dame Karen Bradley, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee.
“ACC O’Hara and I would like to formally apologise for any confusion and reassure there was never any intention to mislead,” said Chief Constable Guildford.
Guildford and O’Hara are now facing a rare parliamentary recall next week — the first time a serving Chief Constable has been summoned twice over the same fiasco. Dame Karen warned “a number of questions” still hang over how the police managed the match.
Fan Ban Sparks Political Uproar and Call for Independent Probe
The controversial ban, pushed through by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which includes Birmingham City Council and police reps, triggered a political storm.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the move, adding fuel to the fire.
Birmingham City Council has since announced a full external review. Richard Brooks, city operations director, said the council “intends to commission a formal independent review led by an external law firm” to overhaul decision-making processes.
Government Cracks Down on Event Safety Reviews After Debacle
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to investigate how risk assessments are shared with SAGs across the country.
The probe’s findings are expected by March 31, 2026.
The match itself passed off peacefully with over 700 officers deployed and Aston Villa securing a 2-0 win. But UEFA slapped Maccabi with a €20,000 (£17,500) fine and a suspended away ban for discriminatory chants by their fans.
Trust in Police and Community Relations Takes a Hit
Critics warn the fan ban sets a dangerous precedent — letting vague threats decide who can attend rather than focusing on actual troublemakers.
Chief Constable Guildford’s recall underlines MPs’ serious concerns over police mismanagement and their misleading statements on the whole saga.
