Exclusive documents have revealed that Jewish community groups warned police a decision to ban supporters of an Israeli football team from a match in Birmingham risked being "perceived as antisemitic".
Community Warnings Over 'Reputational Risk'
Minutes from a safety meeting, obtained by The Guardian via a Freedom of Information request, show the stark concerns raised on the very day the controversial prohibition was announced. The meeting of the council-led safety advisory group took place on 16 October, hours before it was declared that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be barred from the Europa League fixture at Villa Park on 6 November.
In comments attributed to West Midlands Police, the redacted document states: "Jewish community groups have expressed concern that banning away fans could be perceived as antisemitic, rather than a public safety decision." It further warned that "this perception could undermine trust and increase reputational risk for authorities and the club."
The police also noted their awareness of concerns within the Aston Villa fanbase regarding hate crime incidents, mentioning "particularly isolated incidents of antisemitic abuse".
Police Intelligence and Subsequent Apology
The force's rationale for the ban, which no member of the safety group objected to, centred on what it called "significant intelligence indicating potential for disorder". Police cited incidents at Maccabi Tel Aviv fixtures in Italy, Norway, and Amsterdam, and even referenced disorder at a baseball game in the Netherlands involving an Israeli team.
According to the minutes, police assessed there was a "high likelihood of protest activity" linked to the match, which represented the "highest threat". However, they concurrently acknowledged that the overall risk level for the match remained at "medium" even without away fans, due to community tensions and the potential for spontaneous protest.
The revelations follow an apology from West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable, Mike O'Hara, to Birmingham's Jewish communities. He had told MPs in early December that some community members had expressed support for the ban, a claim the force later clarified, stating it was "never the intention of the officer to imply" explicit support for the exclusion.
Scrutiny and Disputed Claims
The head of West Midlands Police, Chief Constable Craig Guildford, has been recalled to appear before the Home Affairs Committee next Tuesday to face scrutiny over the decision. In further details provided ahead of the hearing, Guildford referenced intelligence including notes from a meeting with Dutch police.
These notes described "violent confrontations" before an Ajax vs Maccabi match in Amsterdam in 2024, alleging Muslim taxi drivers were pulled from vehicles and anti-Muslim chants were sung. The notes also mentioned a "national mobilisation of Muslim youths" travelling for "retribution", with reported hit-and-run incidents on Maccabi fans.
However, these claims have been disputed. The government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann, labelled some police assertions as "inaccurate", saying the force had "conflated different things". The Times also reported that Dutch police were "surprised" by the claims attributed to them.
Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton and other officials are also due to be questioned by MPs. The council's executive director for city operations has pledged an independent review to "ascertain what can be improved from a governance perspective." West Midlands Police declined to comment when approached.
