The chief constable of West Midlands Police has retired with immediate effect following a damning report into his force's controversial decision to ban supporters of an Israeli football club from a match in Birmingham.
Chief Constable Steps Down Amid Mounting Pressure
Craig Guildford announced his departure on Friday, 16 January 2026, after sustained criticism over the handling of security for a UEFA Europa Conference League match. The force had recommended banning fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the game against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 6 November last year.
The locally elected Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, Simon Foster, made the announcement outside police headquarters in Birmingham. Guildford's position became untenable after the publication of an independent report on Wednesday, which found the decision to impose the ban was flawed.
Report Finds Risk Assessment Was Flawed
The critical report concluded that West Midlands Police had overstated the threat posed by Maccabi fans while simultaneously understating the risks to those same supporters. This assessment came during a period of heightened community tensions in the UK following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue and calls for a sporting boycott of Israel related to the conflict in Gaza.
In response to the report's findings, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated she had lost confidence in the chief constable and urged him to resign. Mahmood highlighted a legislative hurdle, noting that a policy change by the previous Conservative government in 2011 removed the Home Secretary's power to directly fire a chief constable. She confirmed she is seeking to reinstate that power.
Controversy Over High-Risk Match Designation
At the time of the match, West Midlands Police defended the ban, stating the fixture was deemed "high risk" based on current intelligence and previous incidents. This included referencing violence and hate crimes that occurred when Maccabi played Ajax in Amsterdam during the previous season.
The decision sparked a significant debate about policing, proportionality, and antisemitism in UK football. Guildford's immediate retirement marks the culmination of a controversy that has raised serious questions about operational decision-making and accountability within one of the country's largest police forces.
