Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban controversy
Acting Chief Constable Scott Green referred several senior officers for investigation on January 27, 2026, regarding the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban, following his appointment as the new acting chief of West Midlands Police after Craig Guildford's resignation. As of January 27, 2026, an accountability hearing is underway at West Midlands Police headquarters to examine the police's actions, with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster stating he lacks the legal authority to dismiss the chief constable. Former Chief Constable Craig Guildford admitted on January 15, 2026, that incorrect evidence leading to the fan ban was generated by Microsoft Copilot AI, contradicting his initial claim of human research. UK ministers are set to gain direct powers to dismiss failing chief constables as part of new police reform laws, a development linked to the fallout from the Tel Aviv fan ban.
Timeline
Want updates on this thread?
Track this storyTimeline of developments
January 2026 — 14 developments
Acting Chief Constable Scott Green referred several senior officers for investigation regarding the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban.
Acting Chief Constable Scott Green referred several senior officers for investigation regarding the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban. The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, stated he lacked the legal authority to dismiss the chief constable.
Scott Green has been appointed as the new acting chief of West Midlands Police, focusing on repairin…
Scott Green has been appointed as the new acting chief of West Midlands Police, focusing on repairing damage to the Jewish community, following Craig Guildford's resignation after admitting to using incorrect evidence.
An accountability hearing is currently underway at the West Midlands Police headquarters to investigate the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
An accountability hearing is currently underway at the West Midlands Police headquarters to investigate the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. The hearing will examine the police's actions before, during, and after the ban was announced.
UK ministers are set to gain direct powers to dismiss failing chief constables as part of new police reform laws, a development linked to the fallout from the Tel Aviv fan ban.
UK ministers are set to gain direct powers to dismiss failing chief constables as part of new police reform laws, a development linked to the fallout from the Tel Aviv fan ban.
A preliminary report by a British policing watchdog, which led to the police chief's resignation, is…
A preliminary report by a British policing watchdog, which led to the police chief's resignation, is criticized for failing to include voices from Birmingham's Muslim community in its investigation of the fan ban.
Leaked audio from October 2025 reveals a senior West Midlands police officer claimed Birmingham resi…
Leaked audio from October 2025 reveals a senior West Midlands police officer claimed Birmingham residents planned to 'arm themselves' in self-defense before a Maccabi Tel Aviv match.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police announces his immediate retirement, stating …
Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police announces his immediate retirement, stating that the 'political and media frenzy' surrounding his position had become detrimental to the force.
Police issued clarifications regarding the Jewish community's involvement in the decision to ban Mac…
Police issued clarifications regarding the Jewish community's involvement in the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, following controversy over the intelligence and justification used.
Sir Andy Cooke criticized senior police for fabricating evidence to justify banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, citing inaccurate information.
Sir Andy Cooke criticized senior police for fabricating evidence to justify banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, citing inaccurate information.
West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford apologized to MPs, admitting that incorrect evidence lead…
West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford apologized to MPs, admitting that incorrect evidence leading to the fan ban was generated by Microsoft Copilot AI, contradicting his initial claim that human research was responsible.
Official inspection reports from GOV.
Official inspection reports from GOV.UK and His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary confirmed that West Midlands Police advised reducing ticket allocation to zero for the Maccabi Tel Aviv match and indicated errors in their handling of the fan ban.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly announces she has lost confidence in Chief Constable Craig G…
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly announces she has lost confidence in Chief Constable Craig Guildford, following an independent report that highlighted 'a failure of leadership' and 'damning' errors in WMP's intelligence gathering for the ban.
Police chiefs publicly defended their decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to Members of Parliament…
Police chiefs publicly defended their decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to Members of Parliament, asserting it was based on safety concerns and intelligence suggesting local community members might arm themselves, while denying any conspiracy.
Documents revealed West Midlands Police knew of antisemitism warnings weeks before claiming Jewish community support for the Tel Aviv football ban.
Documents revealed West Midlands Police knew of antisemitism warnings weeks before claiming Jewish community support for the Tel Aviv football ban. This led to MPs demanding Chief Craig Guildford's resignation on January 15, 2026, and Commissioner Simon Foster announcing his retirement the next day.
December 2025 — 1 developments
Reports emerge in UK media indicating that Dutch police dispute some of the evidence cited by West M…
Reports emerge in UK media indicating that Dutch police dispute some of the evidence cited by West Midlands Police to justify the ban, raising initial questions about the intelligence used.
November 2025 — 1 developments
The Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv proceeds in Birmingham without away fans, while protests related to the ban occur outside the stadium.
The Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv proceeds in Birmingham without away fans, while protests related to the ban occur outside the stadium.
October 2024 — 1 developments
Tel Aviv Police Chief Ami Eshed has resigned, citing political interference from government members who allegedly demanded excessive force against protesters.
Tel Aviv Police Chief Ami Eshed has resigned, citing political interference from government members who allegedly demanded excessive force against protesters. Eshed stated he could not comply with these demands without violating regulations. This resignation is in protest against perceived government meddling in police operations.