Ex-chief investigated over Maccabi fans Aston Villa ban
Former West Midlands Police chief Craig Guildford is now under formal investigation for alleged gross misconduct linked to the controversial ban that stopped maccabi fans Aston Villa were due to host at Villa Park on 6 November 2025 after safety fears. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also notified three officers and a staff member after an inaccurate force briefing helped shape the decision to bar Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters.
Key Takeaways
- Craig Guildford faces an IOPC gross misconduct probe over the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban at Aston Villa.
- West Midlands Police’s briefing to Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group contained eight errors, including AI-sourced falsehoods.
- Three serving officers and one staff member are also under investigation.
- Guildford retired in January after Downing Street and the home secretary said they had lost confidence in him.
- If proven, he could be barred from future policing work.
Why were Maccabi fans banned from Aston Villa?
Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were barred from the Europa League fixture at Villa Park on 6 November 2025. Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which included West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, imposed the ban after a police intelligence briefing raised safety concerns.
According to BBC News, that report later proved inaccurate. Inspectors found eight errors, including overstating Maccabi fans’ role in Amsterdam disorder in 2024 and citing a non-existent Maccabi versus West Ham match said to have been produced by Microsoft Copilot.
West Midlands Police later admitted it “overstated the evidence,” failed to engage early enough with the local Jewish community, and indicated a ban on AI use in such work. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Andy Cooke, said confirmation bias had influenced how the force reached and communicated its recommendation.
Who else is being investigated by the IOPC?
Besides Guildford, the IOPC is investigating a senior serving officer who helped compile the briefing, alleging failures on accuracy, impartiality, and handling of sensitive intelligence. A staff member is accused of sourcing inaccurate information from AI searches and not acting to keep it out of briefings.
Two further senior officers face potential misconduct notices over planning oversight, community engagement, and allegedly unbalanced references to Maccabi supporters. IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said notices do not automatically mean disciplinary proceedings will follow.
Temporary deputy chief constable Jen Mattinson said she made a voluntary referral on her first full day in the role and that the force continues to cooperate while seeking to rebuild public trust.
What could the investigation mean for Guildford?
Guildford retired in January after both Downing Street and the home secretary said they had lost confidence in his leadership. Announcing his exit, he did not apologise and blamed a “political and media frenzy.”
The IOPC says evidence indicates he may have had oversight of the briefing presented to the SAG and may have failed to ensure due diligence and the highest scrutiny over that influential document. If gross misconduct is proven at a hearing, he would likely be placed on the barred list, preventing future policing work.
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