British police chief resigns after criticism for decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 01/16/2026 - 16:59 Chief Constable Craig Guildford of the West Midlands Police faced intense scrutiny after a report claimed he presented 'flawed' evidence to justify ban Chief Constable Craig Guildford faced criticism for his decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans after a report found West Midlands Police had compiled evidence obtained incorrectly using artificial intelligence (AFP) Off The head of a British police force at the heart of a row over a ban on Israeli football fans attending a football match in England has resigned after facing intense scrutiny for defending the ban. Chief Constable Craig Guildford resigned on Friday and went into retirement after facing scrutiny for presenting “flawed” intelligence to justify the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa. Guildford’s critics accused his police force of caving into antisemitism after the West Midlands Police justified the ban over concerns of potential violence from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. On Thursday, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had “lost confidence” in Guildford and called on him to resign from his post. Before his resignation, a report by the chief inspector of constabulary found errors in how the West Midlands Police gathered intelligence on the risks posed by the Maccabi fans coming to Birmingham. Guildford also appeared twice before MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee to justify the ban. At the first hearing, Guildford admitted that part of the evidence compiled by West Midlands Police to justify the ban, including a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham that never happened, was obtained incorrectly using artificial intelligence. The decision nonetheless sparked outrage within the British government, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy making unfounded claims that the decision was influenced by antisemitism. But Guildford defended the decision and said it was not taken lightly and it was a “necessary tactic with a legitimate aim, absolutely not antisemitic, rather a carefully considered, legitimate and necessary measure to ensure public safety”. Independent MP Ayoub Khan, who represents Birmingham Perry Barr, where Aston Villa is based, criticised the treatment of Guildford and said it marked a “dark and shameful chapter for Birmingham.” “Today, an honourable man of integrity has been ruthlessly scapegoated, publicly maligned and discarded in favour of appeasing hooligans and the very violence his actions prevented,” said Khan. "This was not accountability - it was a witch hunt,” he added. Precedent The West Midlands Police assessment, which led to the ban, was based on intelligence from Dutch police regarding the conduct of Maccabi fans during a match against Amsterdam in November 2024. A Guardian report on 21 October said that the police assessment "concluded the biggest risk of violence came from extremist fans of the Israeli club". Maccabi Haifa fans attack Palestinian restaurant goers after match ends in draw Read More » Middle East Eye separately revealed that Dutch police told their British counterparts that over 200 Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans who wreaked havoc in Amsterdam were "linked" to the Israeli military. Documents seen by MEE said hundreds of fans were "experienced fighters", "highly organised" and "intent on causing serious violence". Dutch police reported that "significant numbers of Maccabi fans were actively involved in demonstrations and confrontations". Early reporting by media outlets on the violence in Amsterdam in 2024 characterised the violence as a "pogrom" against Jewish football fans. Footage later emerged of Maccabi fans attacking locals and chanting racist slogans against Arabs. Violence involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is not limited to matches outside of Israel. Last October, Israeli authorities in Tel Aviv cancelled the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv due to what police there described as "violent riots". Videos also emerged from last November of dozens of Maccabi fans launching fireworks at a building that housed the apartment of their manager, Zarko Lazetic, amid the club's recent poor run of results. According to the Israeli outlet Ynet, Lazetic has since resigned, telling an associate that he "feels threatened and unprotected". Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0