West Midlands Police is facing scrutiny over its decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa after Dutch police authorities disputed key intelligence used to justify the prohibition.
Contested claims in confidential dossier
The controversy centres on a confidential dossier prepared by West Midlands Police that cited alleged hooliganism by Maccabi fans during their match against Ajax in Amsterdam last year. According to The Sunday Times report, the British police force claimed in their assessment that Israeli supporters threw "innocent members of the public into the river" and that between 500 and 600 fans had "intentionally targeted Muslim communities".
The dossier further asserted that 5,000 Dutch police officers had been deployed in response to the disorder. However, Netherlands police representatives have since questioned these accounts, describing some information as "not true" and in certain instances "obviously inaccurate".
Dutch police challenge key allegations
Sebastiaan Meijer, spokesman for Amsterdam's police division, expressed surprise at claims in the West Midlands report that linked 200 travelling supporters to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Mr Meijer clarified that Dutch police had no such intelligence and noted the claim was meaningless given Israel's policy of conscription.
Additionally, the Dutch police representative stated that his force "does not recognise" the assertion attributed to Dutch law enforcement that Israeli fans were "highly organised, skilled fighters with a serious desire and will to fight with police and opposing groups".
Regarding the river incident, Dutch authorities indicated that the only known case involved a Maccabi supporter who entered the water voluntarily. The fan was reportedly told he could leave on condition that he said "Free Palestine" while being filmed.
Police defence and political reaction
Before the 6 November fixture at Villa Park, West Midlands Police chief superintendent Tom Joyce told Sky News that a "section" of Maccabi's fanbase engaged in "quite significant levels of hooliganism". He specifically referenced disorder during the Amsterdam match last November as informing their decision-making.
The safety advisory group (SAG) subsequently recommended the fan ban based on police advice. The decision occurred amid heightened tensions due to Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza and drew criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who called it the "wrong decision".
In a comprehensive statement to Sky News, West Midlands Police stood by their assessment, stating their evaluation was "based primarily on information and intelligence and had public safety at its heart". The force emphasised that they had met with Dutch police on 1 October where information about the 2024 fixture was shared.
West Midlands Police further revealed that a peer review conducted by the United Kingdom Policing Unit (UKFPU), National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and subject matter experts on 20 October had "fully endorsed the force's approach and decision-making".
The force maintained that the "Maccabi Fanatics" subgroup posed a "credible threat to public safety" and that their policing strategy was "effective, proportionate, and maintained the city's reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone".
