Police Chief Apologizes to MPs for Mistaken Evidence on Maccabi Tel Aviv Fan Ban

West Midlands Police’s chief constable has issued an apology to Members of Parliament for providing incorrect information regarding the prohibition of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match, as the Home Secretary prepares to address the Parliament.

Background on the Controversy

Officials have faced criticism for the decision to prevent followers of the Israeli football club from being present at the Europa League game against Aston Villa on November 6.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford reached out to the Home Affairs Committee to express his regret after making two appearances to testify about the issue.

In a letter addressed to Dame Karen Bradley, the chair of the committee, Guildford acknowledged that his prior statements, along with those from Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara, erroneously attributed the misinformation regarding a match between West Ham and Maccabi Tel Aviv to a Google search.

Correction on the Source of Intelligence

Guildford clarified that the incorrect data stemmed from using the artificial intelligence tool Microsoft Co-Pilot instead.

He stated, “Both ACC O’Hara and I had, up until Friday afternoon, believed the West Ham match had been discovered through a Google search.”

The chief constable added, “I sincerely apologize to the Committee for this misunderstanding, on behalf of myself and ACC O’Hara. I was under the impression that the identification of the match was based on a Google search in preparation for our appearance before the HAC. My belief in this matter was genuine, and I had no intention of misleading the Committee.”

During the committee meeting on January 6, MPs inquired whether AI played a role in the police’s assessment process. Guildford responded, “It was noted that we investigated the West Ham game thoroughly. Some suggested that AI was involved in this instance. However, we do not utilize AI in our operations.”

Continued Pressure on the Police Chief

The police chief has been subjected to increasing scrutiny and calls for his resignation following the ban.

Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were prohibited from attending the game at Villa Park by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which cited safety concerns that were based on recommendations from the police. This included references to a hypothetical match between the Israeli team and West Ham that never occurred.

The SAG’s decision, comprising individuals from the council, police, and other agencies, provoked political backlash, including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Doubts surrounding the intelligence used by the police have risen, along with concerns over the reliability of the information.

Guildford has maintained that the decision was not influenced by political factors. The situation escalated as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to address MPs after initiating a probe by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services into the ban.

The upcoming report from Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke is expected to assert that West Midlands Police made numerous errors in how it collected and managed intelligence.

A spokesperson for the Home Office stated, “The Home Secretary has received the Chief Inspectorate’s findings regarding West Midlands Police’s recommendation to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the match against Aston Villa. She will carefully review the findings and deliver a statement in the House of Commons later today.”

The power to terminate Mr. Guildford’s position rests with West Midlands police and crime commissioner Simon Foster, who has indicated that he will formally assess the evidence surrounding the decision-making process for the ban.