The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, is under intense pressure to resign following the controversial decision to ban supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match in Birmingham.
Political Pressure Mounts as Position Deemed 'Untenable'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has declared Mr Guildford's position 'untenable', accusing him of pandering to 'Islamists'. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has also called for his removal, alleging the force decided to ban the fans first and then "searched for evidence to justify it".
Home Secretary and local MP Shabana Mahmood is being urged to sack the chief constable over his handling of the affair. The furore stems from the police recommendation to ban away fans from the UEFA Europa Conference League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park in November 2025.
Appearing before the influential cross-party Home Affairs Committee in Parliament for a second time in January 2026, Mr Guildford stood by his decision. He apologised for procedural errors but said his biggest regret was "the focus this has placed on our local Jewish community".
Revelations of Unshared Intelligence and Armed Threats
The committee hearing revealed new claims that police failed to openly share critical intelligence which suggested Israeli fans could be met with violence. A police review document, not previously disclosed, indicated that 'elements of the community in the West Midlands were wanting to arm themselves'.
When asked why this intelligence was not shared sooner, Mr Guildford responded that he had not been specifically asked for it—a reply that drew a mutter of 'outrageous' from one MP.
Birmingham City Council leader, Councillor John Cotton, told the committee he was never informed about the possibility of armed groups. "I was not told anything about armed groups or anything of that nature," he stated, adding that he would have responded "vociferously" to such a serious threat.
Instead, the council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) was warned primarily about the threat posed by Maccabi's 'uniquely violent' Ultras and the potential for local reaction.
Scrutiny of Decision-Making and Councillor Conduct
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara defended the ban, stating it was "based on safety". He cited "a huge degree of consternation" from the community and intelligence that "people would actively seek out Maccabi fans and seek violence towards them".
Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for football policing, said the "distinguishing dynamic" was a threat that some Maccabi fans might seek confrontation with the local community, rather than just rival fans.
The committee also scrutinised the composition of the SAG. MPs questioned whether it was appropriate for two councillors—Waseem Zaffar (Labour) and Mumtaz Hussain (Liberal Democrat)—who had publicly campaigned to stop the match entirely, to participate in the group's decision to back the police recommendation.
Minutes from SAG meetings showed the challenge to the game came primarily from these two councillors, who had voiced anti-Israel views. Cllr Cotton was asked if there was a case for misconduct proceedings against them for potentially failing to declare their prior public statements.
Cllr Cotton did not express confidence in the chief constable when asked, reiterating that he believed the ban was the "wrong decision for the city" as it sent a message that Birmingham was not a "welcoming, inclusive place".
Ongoing Fallout and Watchdog Investigation
Amid the continued scrutiny, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered the policing watchdog, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), to examine how police forces provide risk assessments to Safety Advisory Groups. The findings are due by 31 March 2026.
An external police review, published ahead of the committee hearing, suggested the "least-worst" option would have been to allow a limited number of Maccabi fans to attend the game.
Dame Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, emphasised that the crucial issue was whether Birmingham's Jewish community felt safe and protected by the police. Mr Guildford responded: "That is absolutely what we have done since day one and we are absolutely 100 per cent committed to do."
