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MPs probe decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters
West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council leaders will face lawmakers on Tuesday over last year's exclusion of Israeli fans from an Aston Villa match, a move that drew accusations of antisemitism and sparked a dispute with Dutch authorities.
Background to the ban
The Safety Advisory Group-comprising the council, police, and Aston Villa-declared the November fixture a "high risk" in October, three weeks before kickoff. The group cited safety concerns tied to previous Maccabi Tel Aviv matches, particularly unrest in Amsterdam the month prior.
Aston Villa later confirmed that the match proceeded without away supporters.
Disputed claims about Amsterdam violence
West Midlands Police repeatedly referenced the Amsterdam match, initially stating that 1,200 officers were deployed, then revising the figure to 5,000. The force also alleged that 500-600 Maccabi fans had targeted Muslim communities the night before, including "serious assaults" involving random individuals thrown into a river.
Amsterdam police denied the allegations in November, and last month the Dutch Inspector General of Police, Liesbeth Huijzer, reinforced that stance in a letter obtained by the BBC. Huijzer wrote that "we do not see any new facts or circumstances that would warrant revising these findings."
"The facts on the ground in Amsterdam do not remotely resemble what West Midlands Police has claimed."
Nick Timothy, Conservative MP
Internal deliberations revealed
Leaked minutes from a 7 October closed-door meeting, reported by the Sunday Times and seen by the BBC, show police favored a ban despite an "absence of intelligence." One officer reportedly based the preference on "conversations with piers [sic] and my professional judgment." Attendees were reminded the discussion was confidential.
Two days later, a council official requested further evidence linking the ban to fan safety, expressing concern that the move "may be wrongly considered as anti-Jewish sentiment."
By 16 October, police asserted there was "significant intelligence indicating potential for disorder involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans based on recent fixtures."
Political fallout and upcoming testimony
The ban drew criticism from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other politicians, some of whom labeled it antisemitic. West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Birmingham City Council Leader John Cotton will testify before Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday. Guildford was previously questioned by the committee last month and has been recalled for further scrutiny.
West Midlands Police maintains the decision was made to protect local residents. The force has not yet responded to requests for comment on the Dutch Inspector General's letter.
