West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford is under further scrutiny after the force’s decision to ban fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match in Birmingham has prompted calls for his sacking.
Craig Guildford is facing calls to step down following revelations that intelligence used to justify the ban was deemed weak, disputed, or incomplete by a Home Affairs Select Committee.
The controversy stems from West Midlands Police’s decision to bar fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6, 2025.
Police said the ban was imposed due to safety concerns and intelligence suggesting a high risk of disorder linked to the presence of violent Maccabi supporters.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has long been associated with far-right Israeli nationalism, and many of its supporters have previously been linked to racist and anti-Arab chanting at matches across Europe.
Human rights groups and football observers have repeatedly raised concerns about extremist behaviour among sections of the club’s fan base, particularly during away games.
West Midlands Police argued the decision was operational and aimed at preventing violence amid heightened tensions linked to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
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However, senior Labour and Conservative MPs accused the force of overstating the threat and failing to properly evidence the intelligence behind the ban.
Home Affairs Select Committee hearing
Guildford was questioned by the Home Affairs Select Committee, where MPs, many with conflict of interests linked to Israel and Zionist groups, suggested officers appeared to decide on the ban first and seek justification afterwards.
The committee heard that some intelligence assessments were based on assumptions rather than concrete threats, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Despite this, right-wing politicians and pro-Israel groups quickly condemned the ban, accusing police of discrimination against Jewish fans.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Guildford’s position as “untenable” and claimed the force had “capitulated to Islamists”.
Zionist Jewish organisations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, also called for the chief constable to be removed, saying the ban undermined trust in policing.
Ignoring history and facts
Critics of those claims argue they deliberately ignore Maccabi Tel Aviv’s history and the genuine risk posed by its extremist fanbase.
They also point out that football bans are regularly imposed on supporters of clubs linked to violence, without attracting the same political outrage.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has so far resisted calls to sack Guildford, but confirmed he is reviewing the handling of the decision.
He acknowledged the controversy had damaged public confidence and said further scrutiny of police decision-making was necessary.
Policing Israel-Palestine issues in Britain
The issue has reignited wider debate over how policing decisions involving Israel, Palestine, Jewish and Muslim communities are politicised in Britain.
Campaigners say police forces face intense pressure when public safety concerns intersect with accusations of antisemitism or political bias.
They warn that this pressure risks undermining operational independence and discouraging police from taking precautionary action.
Supporters of Guildford argue he acted responsibly given the volatile context and the track record of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters at previous football fixtures across Europe.
They say the backlash reflects a broader unwillingness to acknowledge the normalised extremism within Israeli football culture.
For now, Guildford remains in his post, but his leadership hangs in the balance as scrutiny continues.
The outcome could shape how police forces in the UK handle public safety decisions and community tensions in the future.
