Secret Police Report Uncovers Real Reasons for Controversial Fan Ban
A confidential eight-page police document, suppressed by West Midlands Police and leaked to BirminghamLive, has finally revealed the detailed intelligence that led to the controversial decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The report confirms police feared a 'high risk' of serious disorder triggered by hundreds of what they described as 'fighting experienced' hooligans linked to the Israeli club. Intelligence suggested some troublemakers had connections to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Multiple Threats and Community Fears
West Midlands Police assessment also highlighted concerns about potential attacks on Maccabi fans from pro-Palestine activists and the risk of far-right groups being drawn to Birmingham for the match. Combined, these factors created what officers described as a potential flashpoint that could have required thousands of police officers to control.
The document reveals that police, Aston Villa, Jewish groups and community organisations had been exploring ways to allow some Maccabi fans to attend after the initial ban. However, these efforts were undermined when the Israeli club rejected its ticket allocation, pre-empting any potential reversal of the decision.
Police rated the match as 'high risk' with a score of 77 on the UK Football Policing Unit matrix, placing it among the highest possible risk categories for football matches in Britain.
Political Backlash and Intelligence Justification
The original ban decision faced strong criticism from senior politicians including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who described it as 'potentially antisemitic'. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy accused authorities of antisemitism, suggesting Birmingham had become a 'no go zone' for Jewish people.
In response to the political pressure, West Midlands Police's chief constable Craig Guildford commissioned an independent review of his actions through the National Police Chiefs Council and UK Football Policing Unit. The review concluded he had made the correct decision based on available intelligence.
The leaked report contains damning intelligence from Dutch police about major disorder during Maccabi Tel Aviv's match against Ajax in Amsterdam last year. Dutch authorities reported that over 2,800 Israeli fans attended that match, including more than 200 with links to the IDF.
Pre-match attacks by Maccabi ultras on Muslim communities and anti-Arab chanting had triggered retaliation and attacks on Israeli fans, requiring 5,000 police officers to control three days of sustained disorder.
Police Strategy and Precedents
West Midlands Police considered several alternatives before settling on the away fan ban as the 'least risky' option. Playing behind closed doors was ruled out as unfair to Aston Villa supporters who had no recent history of disorder.
The report noted that restricting away fans was a 'tried and tested tactic' with recent precedents in European football. These included bans on Lazio fans attending matches against Ajax due to far-right racism concerns, Glasgow Rangers fans banned for sectarian chanting, and Eintracht Frankfurt supporters barred from matches in Naples over violence fears.
Despite the ban, a major police operation was still required for the match on Thursday, 6 November 2025, with 700 officers deployed and 11 arrests made. While there were flare-ups and confrontations, no significant violence or damage occurred.
When questioned about their initial reluctance to disclose the intelligence behind their decision, West Midlands Police stated they had engaged directly with Jewish community leaders to explain the 'hooliganism element' candidly, while balancing operational security concerns.
