A decision to ban supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a Europa League match in Birmingham is under intense scrutiny after Dutch police challenged the credibility of intelligence used to justify the move.
Contested Intelligence at the Heart of the Ban
The controversy stems from a fixture in November 2025, when Maccabi Tel Aviv was due to play Aston Villa at Villa Park. Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group, acting on intelligence from West Midlands Police (WMP), banned the Israeli club's travelling fans. The force claimed its assessment was based on the violent behaviour of Maccabi supporters during a match against Ajax in Amsterdam in November 2024.
However, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which was ordered to investigate by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, has heard a different account from Dutch police. Sources indicate the Dutch authorities told inspectors that several key claims relied upon by WMP did not match their experience of policing that game.
Key Claims Called into Question
The Guardian understands that Dutch police specifically corrected assertions made by their British counterparts. They stated that a claim Maccabi fans had thrown Muslims into an Amsterdam canal was incorrect; the only similar incident involved an Israeli fan being found in the water.
Furthermore, Dutch police said the disorder required 1,200 officers to manage, not the 5,000 cited by WMP. They also contested the idea that Maccabi fans specifically targeted Muslim communities in Amsterdam, noting that the trouble was confined to the city centre, while Muslim communities live outside that area.
The Dutch view presented to HMIC in December was that the cause of trouble before the Ajax game was mixed, with provocation from both sides. After the match, however, it was Maccabi fans who were attacked, amid high anti-Israeli sentiment in Amsterdam related to the Gaza war.
Mounting Pressure and Pending Reports
The findings of the first part of the HMIC inquiry are due to be published this week and sent to the Home Secretary. Senior sources in policing, Whitehall, and Birmingham's local government expect the report to be critical of West Midlands Police.
This adds significant pressure on WMP and its Chief Constable, Craig Guildford, who faces calls to resign. The only person with the power to remove him is the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, who is awaiting the HMIC report before making a decision.
WMP stated that a briefing from three Dutch officers on 1 October 2025 radically altered their plans. Prior to that, they intended to host Maccabi fans, but the intelligence received led them to raise their risk assessment.
The final match was played without Maccabi supporters present after the club declined its ticket allocation. The ban had been announced shortly after a deadly terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue, amid heightened national concerns about antisemitism.
Beyond the HMIC, the Independent Office for Police Conduct will study the report to consider potential misconduct. Additionally, the Home Affairs Committee is preparing its own report, which is also expected to criticise the police and examine claims the force caved to political pressure—an allegation it denies.
