West Midlands Police apologize to Jewish community after false claims of support for banning Maccabi fans

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara of West Midlands Police (WMP) has written an apology to members of Birmingham’s Jewish community in the United Kingdom after it emerged that police claims of Jewish support for the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer fans were false.

The BBC reported on Dec. 1 that O'Hara repeatedly answered "yes" when questioned by the Home Affairs Committee about whether Jewish community representatives had said they did not want Maccabi fans attending the Europa League game with Aston Villa on Nov. 6. 

Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, asked, "Were members of the communities saying that they did not want the Maccabi fans there, and did that include any Jewish representatives?" O'Hara reportedly responded positively.

In a letter viewed by the Sunday Times, written to Ruth Jacobs, a representative of the Jewish community in Birmingham, O’Hara said, "I am aware that there is some consternation within the local Jewish community about what I presented on Monday.”

He continued, "There were a number of questions asked, often with several parts and secondary points. Please can I apologise and make very clear that it was not my intention to imply that there were members of the Jewish community who had explicitly expressed support for the exclusion of Maccabi fans."

Jacobs, chair of Birmingham and West Midlands Jewish Community, had been "horrified" at the claim, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford confirmed with Bradley that there was "no documented feedback from Jewish representatives prior to the decision being communicated, which expressed support for the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans."

The decision by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to ban Israeli fans from the Birmingham event on Nov. 6 – a panel that includes Birmingham City Council and the police – has sparked ongoing controversy, as the basis for the ban has unraveled under scrutiny.

The JPost reported that Guildford apologized to the Home Affairs Select Committee on behalf of himself and O'Hara, saying it was not their intention to mislead. He also informed the committee of O'Hara’s apology to Jacobs, adding that the apology had been accepted.

Guilford, O'Hare, and Chief Inspector Mick Wilkinson have been recalled to testify again before Parliament next week, which could result in a police watchdog investigation.

While such a recall is unusual, multiple false statements in the intelligence report that formed the basis for the ban have caused significant concern. These include the incorrect claim that Maccabi’s last match in the UK was against West Ham – no such match ever took place – as well as assertions that Amsterdam police said Israeli fans had thrown hundreds of people into canals, claims that have since been denied by Dutch authorities. The report also falsely stated that the Jewish community had been consulted and approved the ban.

The committee will question officials from the Birmingham City Council, together with representatives from West Midlands Police, next Tuesday. 

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath said in the House of Lords, “The decision of the safety committee in relation to Maccabi fans coming to Birmingham was a mistake,” adding that “it seems to have been based on very flawed evidence from the West Midlands Police force,” according to the Hansard transcript of the parliamentary debate. 

“In the first case, it relied on what the Dutch police had told it about their experience in Amsterdam with Maccabi fans, which the Dutch police themselves disowned; the information seemed to have been gathered through an unminuted Zoom call. Then a football match was cited which turned out never to have been played – there is some thought that it was generated by AI. Thirdly, at the Home Affairs Select Committee only a few days ago, the West Midlands Police said that the local Jewish community supported the ban. That was a mistake and the police have now had to apologise. I think we have reached the point where there is considerable doubt about the integrity of the leadership of the West Midlands Police force.”

He continued, “I say to the Government that I understand the need for all these reports and due process, but action has to be taken.”

ESPN reported that Bradley asked for clarification regarding the remarks made by O'Hara and that she had warned: "Misleading Parliament, intentionally or otherwise, is a serious matter and we would be grateful if you would correct the record and explain how this mistake occurred."