West Midlands Police have defended their decision to ban Israeli football fans from a Birmingham match after Dutch authorities disputed key intelligence used to justify the controversial move.
The force blocked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa on November 6, citing public safety concerns based on violent clashes at a previous match in Amsterdam. The ban drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who the decision "angered" and who attempted to overturn it. The Israeli club ultimately declined tickets for its fans.
More than 700 officers policed the match, which passed without serious disorder. Police arrested ten people.
Intelligence claims disputed
The Netherlands Police has now challenged information in a West Midlands Police report that detailed justifications for the ban, according to the Sunday Times.
The West Midlands report claimed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam threw members of the public into the river, that 500 to 600 of them targeted Muslim communities, and that the report linked 200 to the Israeli Defence Forces. The report also stated the fans were "highly organised, skilled fighters with a serious desire and will to fight with police and opposing groups". The report also stated Dutch police deployed 5,000 officers in response.
Sebastiaan Meijer, a spokesman for the Amsterdam division of the national force, told the Sunday Times the claims were incorrect or unrecognised.
He said the only known case of people being thrown into the river involved a man who appeared to be a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan who was filmed being told he could leave the water if he said "Free Palestine". There was no evidence up to 600 people "deliberately" targeted Muslims, and his force did not have a number of how many took part in the disorder, Meijer added.
The Dutch force did not investigate IDF backgrounds, he said. He rejected the finding that Israeli fans were organised and skilled fighters, noting much of the violence occurred from "small incidents", with Maccabi supporters "getting into fights, but not a lot and not in a very alarming way".
Dutch police deployed 1,200 officers across different shifts, not 5,000, Meijer told the newspaper.
Force stands by assessment
West Midlands Police said its evaluation was "proportionate" and based on information that had "public safety at its heart".
A spokesperson said the force assessed the Amsterdam fixture as having involved significant public disorder. They met with Dutch police on October 1, where Dutch police shared information relating to that match with them.
"Informed by information and intelligence, we concluded that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters – specifically the subgroup known as the Maccabi Fanatics – posed a credible threat to public safety," the spokesperson said.
The UK Football Policing Unit conducted a peer review, commissioned by the force on October 20, along with the National Police Chiefs' Council and subject matter experts. The review fully endorsed the force's approach and decision-making.
"We are satisfied that the policing strategy and operational plan was effective, proportionate, and maintained the city's reputation as a safe and welcoming place for everyone," the spokesperson added.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
