West Midlands police to be questioned over Israeli football fan ban

MPs will question West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council leaders about the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an Aston Villa match; a Dutch police inspectorate letter has disputed some of the Amsterdam-related claims used to justify the ban.

West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council leaders face parliamentary questioning after a decision last year to bar Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from an Aston Villa match in the city. The ban, announced three weeks before the fixture, was justified by local authorities on safety grounds and has attracted political criticism. BBC News has obtained a letter from the Dutch police inspectorate that appears to contradict some of the accounts West Midlands Police used when explaining the ban. The match went ahead without away fans, and the dispute has continued into the new year. Key facts: - The Home Affairs Select Committee will question Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton at a hearing on Tuesday. - West Midlands Police cited unrest at a recent Maccabi match in Amsterdam as part of its justification; Amsterdam police and the Dutch Inspector General have reported that some of those claims were not recognised. - The decision to bar away fans was made by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group in October and the match proceeded without visiting supporters. Summary: The decision prompted political criticism and a review of the evidence behind the safety assessment. MPs will hear from the police chief and council leader at the Home Affairs Select Committee hearing on Tuesday to examine the decision and the related claims; further outcomes are undetermined at this time.