Ex-chief constable investigated over Israeli fan ban

The former chief constable of West Midlands Police is being investigated by the police watchdog for gross misconduct over the banning of Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has given notice that it is investigating Craig Guildford, as well as three police officers and a staff member.

The IOPC launched an independent investigation in January to examine the involvement of West Midlands Police officers in the planning and preparation of the match at Villa Park on 6 November 2025.

The ban attracted national and international debate, with the government saying it would do everything in its power to have it overturned.

The IOPC said evidence indicated that Guildford "may have had oversight on an intelligence briefing document presented to the safety advisory group (SAG) that was later reported to have contained inaccuracies and misleading information".

It is alleged the briefing document "gave an imbalanced view of the risk away fans posed", contributing to the decision to ban the supporters.

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