West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has stepped down, caught in a storm over a contentious decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match.
Craig Guildford retired on Friday following intense scrutiny over West Midlands Police's ban on Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending an away match against Aston Villa on November 6, 2025. The decision, based on a flawed intelligence report, drew criticism from the Home Affairs Select Committee and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Guildford, who has served since December 2022, faced potential dismissal at a January 27 meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster if he had not resigned.
The issue has sparked fierce debate over policing practices and accountability in public safety decisions. While some defend Guildford’s tenure, others see this as a glaring example of institutional overreach.
Guildford's Exit and the Ban's Backstory
The saga began in 2025 when West Midlands Police barred Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match, citing an intelligence report claiming the Israeli supporters posed a risk of violence. Discrepancies in the report soon surfaced, including fabricated claims about past incidents, The Jerusalem Post reported.
During hearings with the Home Affairs Select Committee in December and again on January 6, officers faced tough questions over falsehoods, such as a nonexistent riotous match involving West Ham and exaggerated reports of disorder during a Maccabi-Ajax game in Amsterdam. Even more damning, it emerged that police concealed the ban’s true motive—protecting Maccabi fans from local hostility tied to their nationality.
A police planning meeting on September 22 noted, “It is clear that there is a growing suggestion of local hostility toward the visitors based on their nationality.” This framing shifted by October 8, when police portrayed the fans as inherently dangerous to justify the exclusion.
Flawed Intelligence and Public Backlash
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising revelation came when Guildford admitted during the second hearing that parts of the intelligence report relied on Microsoft Copilot, contradicting his earlier claim of a simple Google search error. This slip-up only fueled perceptions of incompetence at the highest levels.
Sir Andy Cooke, chief inspector of Constabulary, released a preliminary report last week at the request of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, highlighting “confirmation bias” in the evidence presented to Birmingham’s Security Advisory Group. Cooke found no evidence of antisemitism in the decision but criticized the imbalance in how fan behavior was assessed.
Mahmood didn’t hold back, calling Cooke’s findings “damning” and declaring she had lost confidence in Guildford. Two days after the report, she welcomed his resignation, noting he had made the right call by stepping aside.
Guildford's Defense and Lack of Apology
Guildford, for his part, offered no remorse for the mishandling of the Maccabi match policing, instead praising the force’s efforts. He argued the “political and media frenzy around myself and my position has become detrimental to all the great work undertaken by my officers and staff in serving communities across the West Midlands.” This stance has left many wondering if accountability has truly been served.
While Guildford’s exit may close one chapter, it opens another on whether public safety decisions are being made with integrity or swayed by unverified assumptions. The use of AI-generated “facts” in policing is a chilling precedent in an era obsessed with tech over truth.
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara also had to apologize to the Jewish community for falsely claiming their support for the ban, a misstep that deepened distrust. This incident isn’t just a local blunder; it’s a warning about how quickly flawed data can erode public faith.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
Home Secretary Mahmood’s swift reaction suggests a push for stricter oversight, yet some question if the response has been fair. MP Ayoub Khan, a vocal supporter of the police, called the process a “witch hunt,” arguing Guildford was unfairly targeted as a scapegoat. His words highlight a divide on whether this is justice or a rush to assign blame.
At its core, this controversy isn’t just about one match or one chief constable—it’s about whether authorities can be trusted to balance safety with fairness. The ban, rooted in questionable intelligence, reflects a troubling trend of decisions made on shaky ground rather than solid evidence.
As West Midlands Police moves forward, the shadow of this scandal looms large. Guildford may be gone, but the questions about how policing intersects with cultural sensitivities remain unanswered. It’s a reminder that public trust, once broken, isn’t easily rebuilt.
