West Midlands Police has defended keeping silent over the "significant hooliganism" among Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, which it now confirms is the reason they were banned from attending the Europa League clash with Aston Villa. More than 700 officers from 20 police forces were deployed near Villa Park on Thursday, where hundreds took part in demonstrations over the controversial decision. When it emerged in October that fans of the Israeli club would not be welcome, senior MPs, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, said it amounted to antisemitism. Jack Angelides, CEO of Maccabi Tel Aviv, told the BBC their fans being banned meant it was "time for some introspection and retrospection". Chief Constable Craig Guildford has been asked to appear before The Home Affairs Committee to explain the reasoning behind the ban, by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group. He defended the move to the BBC but until now the force had remained tight-lipped over the intelligence the decision was based on.
Published: November 7, 2025 2:37 pm
Source: BBC — Read original