West Midlands police insist decision to ban Maccabi fans ‘not politically influenced’

West Midlands Police (WMP) leaders defended their decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Europa League match against Aston Villa on November 6th before the Home Affairs Committee. The ban, recommended by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) based on police intelligence, cited safety concerns. Police claimed intelligence suggested Maccabi fans would be the primary instigators of trouble, a claim disputed by the committee. The committee raised concerns about biased intelligence gathering and potential political pressure from councillors advocating for the ban. WMP cited online goading and a high-risk classification based on alleged incidents at a previous Maccabi Tel Aviv match, though Dutch police disputed the accuracy of that information. The police chief constable denied any political influence on the decision.