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West Midlands Police has clarified that its Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara did not intend to suggest that the Jewish community supported the decision to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Europa League match held in Birmingham. During questioning by MPs, ACC O’Hara affirmed that some representatives from the Jewish community had expressed hesitation about the presence of Maccabi supporters; however, the police force later emphasized that this was a misinterpretation. A police spokesperson stated that O’Hara had never meant to imply explicit backing from the Jewish community for the fan ban and that the force continues to maintain active engagement with the community in Birmingham.
The decision to prohibit away fans from attending the game at Villa Park on November 6 attracted significant criticism. Among those voicing disapproval was the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who publicly expressed frustration over the ban. The restriction stemmed from West Midlands Police classifying the fixture as high risk, a determination based on previous incidents and intelligence assessments. O’Hara told the Home Affairs Committee that concerns came from a variety of faiths and ethnic backgrounds, including Jewish representatives, who reportedly did not want Maccabi fans at the match. When asked directly if Jewish community members were included in this group, O’Hara affirmed that this was the case.
During evidence to the committee, Chief Constable Craig Guildford explained that the evaluation primarily relied on intelligence provided by Dutch police officers, who had observed disturbances involving Maccabi ultras and local Muslim groups in the days surrounding a previous game. Guildford described the Maccabi ultras as highly organized and militaristic, detailing accusations of violence such as assaults on taxi drivers, tearing down flags, and even throwing people into a river. However, Dutch authorities later contested these claims, indicating to The Sunday Times that the police’s justification for the fan ban was based on inaccurate intelligence about disorder at a match in Amsterdam the prior year. Supporting this view, Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, informed the committee that only one flag had been torn down and that an incident involving a taxi driver was isolated.
Despite the tension leading up to the match, which saw hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a smaller number of pro-Israeli protesters outside Villa Park, the game itself was marked by a strong police presence of over 700 officers and concluded without serious disturbances, resulting in only a few arrests. The Prime Minister reiterated his stance that antisemitism must not be tolerated in public spaces and underscored the police’s responsibility to ensure that all football fans can enjoy matches free from fear or intimidation. The Safety Advisory Group in Birmingham, which includes both the police and city council representatives, made the decision to ban away supporters based in part on the police’s intelligence, though the fallout highlights the complexities involved in balancing security concerns and community relations
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