Mahmood may have known about ban on Israeli fans earlier

The Mail on Sunday reports documents suggesting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was briefed on plans to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters eight days before the decision was confirmed; the Home Office says the Inspectorate of Constabulary has been asked to investigate and Ms Mahmood has been urged to make a statement to Parliament.

New reporting by The Mail on Sunday says documents indicate Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was briefed on a plan to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from their match against Aston Villa eight days before the ban was confirmed. At the time, allies of Ms Mahmood said she only learned of the ban on the evening of October 16 and sought to reverse it. The decision was later criticised by some as rooted in antisemitism. The Home Office says the Inspectorate of Constabulary has been asked to investigate how the decision was reached. Key points: - Documents seen by the newspaper include a civil service note dated October 8 stating the West Midlands Chief Constable had briefed the Home Secretary that banning away fans "may" be a condition for the match going ahead. - Aston Villa's safety advisory team confirmed a ban on away fans eight days later. - Allies of Ms Mahmood had said she only found out about the ban on October 16 and denied advance warning to the Home Office. - The Home Office says the Home Secretary requested an inspection by the Inspectorate of Constabulary and that it will await the findings. Summary: The documents reported have prompted calls for Ms Mahmood to explain what she, her advisers and the Home Office knew and when, including requests for an emergency statement to Parliament. The Inspectorate of Constabulary has been asked to investigate how the ban decision was reached and the Home Office says it will await those findings. Undetermined at this time.