Football Policing

Home Affairs Committee Open Non-inquiry session
Opened: 26 Nov 2025 Parliament page
The Committee will be hearing from West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner about the decision-making process that led to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being prevented from attending the fixture against Aston Villa in November 2025. The session will explore the intelligence that informed the decision, … Read more
5 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
21 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 27 events
29 Apr
2026
Report published
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
22 Feb
2026
Report published
10 Feb
2026
Correspondence
10 Feb
2026
Correspondence
10 Feb
2026
Correspondence
29 Jan
2026
Correspondence
29 Jan
2026
Correspondence
21 Jan
2026
Correspondence
20 Jan
2026
Correspondence
20 Jan
2026
Correspondence
20 Jan
2026
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
6 Jan 2026
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Anthony Cox · Birmingham City Council Chief Constable Mark Roberts · UK Football Policing Unit Councillor John Cotton · Birmingham City Council Craig Guildford · West Midlands Police Mick Wilkinson · West Midlands Police Mike O’Hara · West Midlands Police Richard Brooks · Birmingham City Council
1 Dec 2025
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Craig Guildford · West Midlands Police Lord Mann, Independent Adviser on Antisemitism Mike O’Hara · West Midlands Police Richard Clarke · Home Office Sarah Jones MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Simon Foster · West Midlands Police
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban HC 1553 22 Feb 2026 15 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan …
West Midlands Police failed to engage directly with the Birmingham Jewish community early enough in...
West Midlands Police failed to engage directly with the Birmingham Jewish community early enough in relation to this fixture. As a result, West Midlands Police limited their access to information that might challenge their narrative about Maccabi Tel Aviv fans … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concern regarding the perception of undue influence from elected politicians and agrees that Safety Advisory Group membership should be grounded in operational, regulatory, and technical expertise; this aligns with work already underway by the UK Resilience Academy review of Safety Advisory Group guidance.
Home Office
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan …
While the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was not involved in the Safety Advisory Group...
While the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was not involved in the Safety Advisory Group process, and it is right that the principle of operational independence is respected, the West Midlands PCC appeared to prioritise defending the Chief Constable above … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the Police and Crime Commissioner's responsibility and subsequent scrutiny of the Chief Constable's actions, including seeking assurances on lessons identified.
Home Office
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan …
Given the international context and location of this fixture, it may have been proportionate to...
Given the international context and location of this fixture, it may have been proportionate to designate this fixture as one of national significance, had the recommendation of Baroness Casey been adopted. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to examine whether national-level support and coordination could be improved for events with risks extending beyond the local footprint, and is developing options to test with stakeholders, but will await the HMICFRS report before finalizing proposals.
Home Office
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan …
This incident has caused serious damage to trust in West Midlands Police, particularly among the...
This incident has caused serious damage to trust in West Midlands Police, particularly among the local Jewish community, as well as to public confidence in the effectiveness of the force. Assistant Chief Constable O’Hara told us that there was no … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the West Midlands Police's actions to reassure the public and rebuild confidence, including engaging with community representatives, reviewing internal processes, and strengthening transparency, and will continue to work with partners to ensure lessons are embedded.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 5 classified
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 5
Not Addressed 2
Total 5 recs + 10 conclusions
Correspondence 21 letters
3 Mar 2026 To committee Letter from the Acting Chief Constable of West Midlands Police relating to the Committee's report on Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban 23.02.2026
Parliament page
10 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from Birmingham City Council relating to the Safety Advisory Group minutes on Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv 06.02.2026
Parliament page
10 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from the Deputy Chief Constable of West Midlands Police in response to the Chair's letter of 29 Jan relating to Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv 02.02.2026
Parliament page
10 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from the Home Secretary following her appearance on 4th Feb relating to Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv 10.02.2026
Parliament page
29 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from the IOPC relating to the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans 19.01.2026
Parliament page
29 Jan 2026 From committee Letter to the IOPC relating to the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans 28.01.2026
Parliament page
21 Jan 2026 Additional documents from Birmingham City Council relating to letter dated 12.01.2026 on Maccabi Tel Aviv Fixture
Parliament page
20 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police, follow up to 6 January oral evidence session 15.01.2026
Parliament page
20 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from Birmingham City Council relating to the SAG meetings 12.01.2026
Parliament page
20 Jan 2026 To committee Response from Amsterdam Police to letter from Dame Karen Bradley of 12 December relating to Aston Villa - Maccabi Tel Aviv
Parliament page
14 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from the Chief Constable Craig Guildford following the Maccabi Tel Aviv session on 1 December and 6 January 2026
Parliament page
6 Jan 2026 Birmingham City Council relating to the Safety Advisory Group minutes on Aston Villa - Maccabi Tel Aviv
Parliament page
6 Jan 2026 UKFPU Peer Review relating to Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv 05.01.2026
Parliament page
6 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from Lord Mann relating to Aston Villa - Maccabi Tel Aviv 05.01.2026
Parliament page
30 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Constable Craig Guildford following the Maccabi Tel Aviv session on 1 December 19.12.2025
Parliament page
30 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Director General for Public Safety and Safer Streets following the Maccabi Tel Aviv session on 1 December 18.12.2025
Parliament page
30 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from Birmingham City Council following the Maccabi Tel Aviv session on 1 December 18.12.2025
Parliament page
30 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Director UK Football Policing Unit following the Maccabi Tel Aviv session on 1 December 17.12.2025
Parliament page
10 Dec 2025 From committee Letter to Birmingham City Council relating to Safety Advisory Group meetings regarding Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv 09.12.2025
Parliament page
10 Dec 2025 From committee Letter to Michael Johnson, Director of the UK Football Policing Unit relating to UKFPU's involvement in preparations for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League match 09.12.2025
Parliament page
10 Dec 2025 From committee Letter to Chief Constable Guildford, West Midlands Police following 1 December oral evidence session 09.12.2025
Parliament page