A police watchdog is set to deliver a critical report into West Midlands Police's handling of intelligence that led to the controversial banning of Israeli football fans from a match in Birmingham last year.
Errors in Intelligence Gathering
The inquiry, ordered by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and conducted by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), found the force made a series of errors in how it gathered and handled information. This intelligence was used to justify prohibiting supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park in November 2025.
The report's conclusions will increase pressure on the force and further undermine the position of its chief constable, Craig Guildford. Guildford had insisted to MPs just last week that his force had acted correctly in the matter.
Disputed Claims from Dutch Police
West Midlands Police had claimed their decision was based on discussions with Dutch police about violence when Maccabi played in Amsterdam in November 2024. The force stated Dutch police identified Maccabi fans as "perpetrators of the violence, not victims."
However, this account is strongly disputed. As part of the HMIC inquiry, Dutch police contradicted several key claims relied upon by the West Midlands force. They disputed, for instance, a report that Maccabi fans had thrown people into a river in Amsterdam, clarifying that only one single Maccabi supporter ended up in the water.
The inspectorate found that the police report presented to Birmingham's local safety advisory group gave a misleading impression, suggesting the behaviour and culpability of the fans was worse than the evidence from the Netherlands actually showed.
Political and Professional Repercussions
Home Secretary Mahmood is due to present the critical findings to MPs in the House of Commons. She is currently considering whether to express confidence in Chief Constable Guildford, though she holds no formal power to dismiss him.
The sole individual with the authority to remove the chief constable is Simon Foster, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. Foster has previously praised Guildford, who has led the force since 2022, for improving its performance and public service.
This report marks a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention, highlighting the challenges of policing international football matches and the serious consequences of intelligence failures.
