// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Ex-chief constable investigated over Israeli fan ban
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were not allowed to attend the Europa League fixture at Villa Park on 6 November 2025
The former chief constable of West Midlands Police is being investigated by the police watchdog for gross misconduct over the banning of Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has given notice that it is investigating Craig Guildford, as well as three police officers and a staff member.
An independent investigation was launched by the IOPC in January to examine the involvement of West Midlands Police officers in the planning and preparation of the match at Villa Park on 6 November 2025.
The ban attracted national and international debate, with the government saying it would do everything in its power to overturn it.
Maccabi supporters were barred from travelling to the game following safety concerns based on an inaccurate report prepared by West Midlands Police.
Eight errors were found in the report, including overstating Maccabi supporters' role in disorder in Amsterdam in 2024, and a reference to a non-existent game between Maccabi and West Ham, said to have been produced by Microsoft Copilot.
The decision to impose the ban was made by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which included representatives from bodies including West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council.
The IOPC said evidence indicated that Guildford "may have had oversight on an intelligence briefing document presented to the safety advisory group (SAG) that was later reported to have contained inaccuracies and misleading information".
It is alleged the briefing document "gave an imbalanced view of the risk away fans posed", contributing to the decision to ban the supporters.