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UK Police Under Scrutiny Over Last Year's Ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans

UK Police Under Scrutiny AfterOver Last Year's Ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans

Should police chiefs be sacked, or were they right in their handling of tensions?
UK Police Under Scrutiny Over Last Year's Ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
Above: An advertising van at Villa Park on Nov. 6, 2025 in Birmingham. Image credit: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images

The Spin

West Midlands Police stands by its decision to ban traveling Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. AfterFollowing internal inquiries, the force is confident that while others tried to influence the decision for political reasons, that was not done by its officers who, in the heat of the developing situation, were trying to make the right decision in the interest of public safety.

As the prime minister and home minister have made clear, the decision from WMP was a mistaken one, particularly as its own review revealed that they could have instead decided to allow a reduced allocation of fans. The government has tasked the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to conduct an urgent investigation into matters.

Islamist extremists planned to attack Jews for attending a soccer match and the response from West Midlands Police was to blame the Jewish people and have them removed from attendance, proceeding to collaborate with the Islamists to cover-up the evidence. This is utterly disgraceful behavior from the police chief in his position in public office is no longer tenable.

Events from Amsterdam and Birmingham seem to serve as a microcosm of the wider conflict between Israel and Palestine. Israelis commit crimes and destroy property, but when the ensuing street justice comes, all the attention and political crises is placed on the response, with all the emphasis placed on Israeli victimhood and claims of antisemitism.

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 15% chance that Andy Burnham will win the next U.K. Labour Party leadership election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0