Maccabi fan ban evidence ‘changed to fit decision’

A group of MPs has heard that the police’s citations of the controversial ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a game against Aston Villa were based on fact-shifting.

Lord Mann, the independent antisemitic adviser for the government, claimed to have “struggled” with some “inaccurate” information from the West Midlands force.

He claimed that some of the evidence “conflated” different things in relation to an Ajax game in Amsterdam, giving an example of running street battles that didn’t take place on a match day.

Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv were denied entry to the 6 November game at Villa Park in Birmingham, a decision that was later changed.

According to the MPs, the police evaluation primarily came from information provided to the force by Dutch police commanders prior to the game.

However, Lord Mann claimed that separating the fans would have been an “easier, better” choice.

He claimed that the police report cited Dutch Maccabi fans “pulling down Palestinian flags” on match day, the night before the game.

He claimed there were numerous incidents against taxi drivers in the report even though there was just one incident.

One MP posed the question, “I believe what you’re saying is the facts have been slightly modified to fit the decision.”

“Right. Exactly. Lord Mann responded, “Yes.”

Lord Mann also made a point about a misrepresentation in the West Midlands Police intelligence report that Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham, which had never occurred, he claimed.

In regards to their decision-making, Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster were also interrogated.

Following the decision by Birmingham City Council’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), a panel that includes Birmingham City Council as well as police, the match, which was attended by more than 700 officers, went unprovoked and resulted in few arrests.

According to Mr. Guildford, “the information the Dutch provided was very, very clear in terms of how they reflected on the days leading up to, during, and following the match as a result of clashes between the Maccabi ultras and the local Muslim community.”

According to what we were told, the ultras were militaristic and well-organized.

They attacked cab drivers and other residents of the area. flags tore down. The river was thrown into by the people.

He added that the Dutch leaders “absolutely” would not want Maccabi Tel Aviv to play in Amsterdam again in the future.

According to Mr. O’Hara, the ban was the “best way to minimize the risks” to the neighborhood, the players, and the fans.

The prime minister criticized the decision after it was implemented, saying that “we will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets” and that the police’s job was to “make sure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”

The chief constable responded to MPs’ questions about whether he thought the government should have the right to make comments on operational decisions.

“But from an operational policing perspective, sometimes when views are expressed quite publicly, especially when, say, all the facts haven’t been thoroughly explained,” they can cause tension and increase the risk and threat.

He continued, “on the contrary, it can also serve to reduce reporting and the level of threat and risk.”