Pressure is mounting on West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford to resign following explosive claims that his force provided false intelligence to justify banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa.
Parliamentary Showdown Over Controversial Decision
The controversy reached the House of Commons today where Conservative MP Nick Timothy demanded accountability during an urgent question session. Mr Timothy claimed the police justification was "based on fiction" and called for publication of all materials linked to the decision.
The dispute centres on West Midlands Police's assertion that the primary reason for banning Israeli supporters from the November 6 clash at Villa Park was fears of violence from "extremist" Maccabi fans. However, recent reports suggest the intelligence about fan behaviour during an earlier match in Amsterdam was significantly exaggerated.
Claims of Fabricated Intelligence Emerge
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp delivered a damning assessment in Parliament, stating: "There was no mob of 500 fans targeting the Muslim community in Amsterdam. In fact, many Maccabi fans were themselves attacked."
Mr Philp directly challenged police claims that fans had thrown people into rivers, noting that only one Maccabi supporter had suffered this fate. He dismissed characterisations of the supporters as "skilled and organised fighters" as being "just made up."
The original decision to ban travelling supporters sparked widespread condemnation last month, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and several government ministers openly criticising the move. Local Jewish community members expressed concerns that the ban increased fears for their safety in Birmingham.
Home Office Launches Formal Review
In response to the growing controversy, Home Office minister Sarah Jones announced that the Home Secretary has commissioned an inspection into how police forces provide risk assessment advice for high-profile public events.
The review will examine whether police advice properly considers all relevant factors, including impacts on community relations and whether the balance between public safety and community considerations is being appropriately struck.
Despite the ongoing controversy, the match itself passed relatively peacefully on November 6, with approximately 700 police officers deployed in an operation costing an estimated £2 million. The operation resulted in 11 arrests and no reported injuries.
Political Fallout Intensifies
Simon Foster, the West Midlands police and crime commissioner, has escalated the political dimension by suggesting that Prime Minister Starmer's intervention "significantly increased risks" surrounding the fixture. In a letter to the home affairs committee, Mr Foster questioned whether the Prime Minister had "acquainted himself with the facts and the evidence" before suggesting the decision was potentially antisemitic.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the composition of Birmingham City Council's safety advisory group, with concerns raised about two councillors - Waseem Zaffar and Mumtaz Hussain - who had previously expressed "vehement anti-Israel views."
As the Home Office investigation begins, calls for transparency and accountability continue to grow, with the future of West Midlands Police's leadership hanging in the balance amid what Mr Timothy described as "grave accusations" that "could hardly be more serious."
