The future of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford is under formal review following his force's role in the controversial decision to ban supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match in Birmingham.
Commissioner Promises Scrutiny Amid Mounting Pressure
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, the Labour politician who oversees the force and holds the power to hire and fire its top officers, has pledged to examine the evidence surrounding the ban. This comes amid intense pressure from MPs, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch for the chief constable to be removed from his post.
However, Foster has resisted calls for immediate action, insisting on following due process. He has announced he will hold the chief constable to account at a public meeting of his Accountability and Governance Board on Tuesday 27 January 2026.
Chief Constable Defends Decision Before Parliament
Craig Guildford appeared before the cross-party Home Affairs Committee in Parliament on 6 January 2026, his second grilling by the influential panel in a month. He was questioned on how police reached their recommendation to ban away fans from the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, which took place on 6 November 2025.
The chief constable stood by the recommendation, made to Birmingham City Council's Safety Advisory Group, which ultimately enacted the ban. He cited a unique combination of factors, including previous incidents of disorder involving the Israeli club's fans, significant local anger, and intelligence about a risk of far-right protests.
"Do I think that the decision was reasonable in the circumstances? Yes. Could it have been a different decision or would it be a different decision going forward? Possibly it could have been," Guildford told MPs, denying any 'conspiracy' behind the move.
Awaiting Official Reports and National Fallout
Commissioner Foster stated he is awaiting several key reports before deciding on any further steps. These include the findings of the Home Affairs Committee, which took oral evidence on 1 December 2025 and 6 January 2026, and an inspection report commissioned by the Home Secretary from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
New claims emerged during the committee hearing that police intelligence, suggesting 'elements of the community in the West Midlands were wanting to arm themselves' if the Israeli fans attended, was not shared openly. Birmingham City Council's role in the final decision is also under scrutiny.
The controversy has placed the leadership of West Midlands Police in a precarious position, with the chief constable's future now hinging on the outcome of multiple reviews and his ability to justify the force's actions to his political overseer and the public.
