A senior British police commissioner has stepped down from his position following intense criticism over his handling of a contentious decision to prohibit Israeli football supporters from attending a European match in England. Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police announced his retirement on Friday after facing mounting pressure regarding the controversial ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
The resignation comes after UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly expressed her loss of confidence in Guildford’s leadership, citing serious concerns about the intelligence assessment methods used to justify the security measure. An official review by the chief inspector of constabulary identified significant flaws in how local police gathered and evaluated risk information concerning the Israeli club’s supporters.
During parliamentary hearings, Guildford acknowledged that portions of the evidence presented to support the ban contained inaccuracies, including reference to a non-existent match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham United that was incorrectly documented using artificial intelligence tools. Despite this admission, the police chief maintained that the decision was a necessary precaution for public safety rather than an antisemitic action.
The controversy emerged from intelligence shared by Dutch authorities regarding Maccabi fan behavior during a November 2024 match in Amsterdam. According to documents obtained by media outlets, Dutch police characterized hundreds of Maccabi supporters as ‘experienced fighters’ with military connections who displayed highly organized violent tendencies. Video evidence from the Amsterdam incident showed fans attacking local residents and chanting racist slogans.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan, representing Birmingham Perry Barr where Aston Villa is based, condemned Guildford’s treatment as a ‘dark and shameful chapter,’ accusing authorities of scapegoating an honorable official who prevented potential violence. This incident reflects broader concerns about football-related violence, with Israeli authorities having previously canceled domestic matches involving Maccabi Tel Aviv due to fan riots and security concerns.