Police Ban on Israeli Fans Based on Inaccurate Intelligence
West Midlands Police used false intelligence provided by Dutch authorities to justify banning Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa, it has been revealed. The decision, affecting the November 6 fixture at Villa Park in Birmingham, was labelled a 'national disgrace' by senior politicians after the Dutch police force strongly denied the claims.
Contested Claims in Confidential Report
A confidential report from West Midlands Police, which outlined the reasons for the controversial ban, contained several significant inaccuracies about the behaviour of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at a previous match in Amsterdam. The report incorrectly claimed that out of 2,800 travelling Israeli supporters, over 200 were linked to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). It also alleged that fans threw 'innocent members of the public into the river' and that between 500 and 600 supporters 'intentionally targeted Muslim communities', leading to a deployment of 5,000 police officers.
However, the national police force of the Netherlands has insisted these claims were incorrect. A spokesman expressed surprise at the allegations, stating the force would never have had such intelligence and noting that Israel's policy of conscription made the IDF link misleading. They confirmed only one case of a person being thrown into a river, who appeared to be a Maccabi fan himself, and stated that only 1,200 officers were deployed, not 5,000.
Political Fallout and Community Reaction
The ban provoked a fierce political backlash. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned the decision, declaring 'We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded it a 'national disgrace' and called for a guarantee that Jewish fans could safely attend any UK football stadium.
Despite the Prime Minister's intention to intervene, Maccabi Tel Aviv ultimately decided not to offer tickets to its fans due to safety concerns, citing the 'wellbeing and safety of our fans' as paramount. The club's statement revealed that the involvement of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, who said he would attend as a Maccabi fan, was the 'final straw'.
The match on November 6 proceeded without the away supporters, with over 700 police officers deployed and 11 arrests made outside the stadium amid protests from pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups.
In its defence, a West Midlands Police spokesman stated their evaluation was based on shared information and had public safety at its heart, adding that a peer review had fully endorsed the force's approach and decision-making.
