West Midlands Police have denied that the decision to ban Israeli fans from a football match in Birmingham was influenced by political factors.
They also denied that they were looking for a reason to ban the fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa in November last year, saying the decision was “reasonable” and based on an assessment of the risk.
Supporters of the Israeli club were barred from the Europa League fixture at Villa Park on 6 November last year. Figures from across the political spectrum, including the prime minister, expressed outrage at the ban.
Bosses from West Midlands Police were being faced questions from MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford said he didn’t believe there was any political influence in the decision to ban fans, telling MPs: “I do not believe there was political influence on that decision, I do not believe that to be the case.
“I believe the information that we provided and the advice, provided to the SAG [Safety Advisory Group], and the decision-making by the SAG in all those around the table in the SAG.
“I am sure the SAG chair took into account what people thought. [But] my personal opinion is there wasn’t any political interference.”
While he said he was “sure” that local politicians and community members wanted to influence the ban, he reiterated that he didn’t believe the decision was influenced.
Local independent MP Ayoub Khan was firmly against the match going ahead in Birmingham, and met with the police on the matter. Some local councillors also lobbied for the ban.
The Safety Advisory Group includes representatives from police, other emergency services, and the local council, which advises on safety for public events.
‘No conspiracy’
Police chiefs told MPs they weren’t looking for a reason to ban Maccabi fans, saying the decision was based on an operational assessment of the safety risk.
Conservative committee chair Karen Bradley put to the police representatives: “It feels to us, from everything we’ve seen, that there was a need that you felt that you had to justify banning these fans, and that a scraping was done to find a reason”.
CC Craig Guildford responded: “That’s absolutely not the case. I’m really sorry if it comes across that way.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara told MPs that he “understood the frustration, but there is no conspiracy here, this is a decision based on safety.”
He outlined that police had intelligence that some local “vigilante groups” would actively seek out Maccabi fans and target them with violence.
He also said police had seen people who were “purporting to be Maccabi fans online who were goading local community members, and saying this is what you’re going to get”.
ACC O’Hara said the decision was made by weighing up the “very hot” local community reception, and evidence from Dutch police saying Maccabi fans had actively targeted locals in Amsterdam.
He called the decision to ban Maccabi fans in the circumstances “reasonable”.
‘Didn’t mean’ to misrepresent views of Jewish community
Later in the session, ACC O’Hara told MPs he was “personally quite gutted” to realise he may have misrepresented the views of the Jewish community.
Labour MP Joani Reid pointed out that the force told MPs at a previous meeting that the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was supported by the local Jewish community.
However, she said this was untrue.
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ACC O’Hara responded: “It was never my intention to misrepresent the views of the Jewish community.
“I was personally quite gutted to leave the first session, to be contacted by the chair and to understand that I had caused confusion or consternation.
“That was never my intention. I immediately apologised, which was then shared with the community.
“I will do whatever I can with our local commanders to continue to improve our working relationship with the Jewish community.”
