Government intervention in the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban was 'clumsy' and 'came too late,' inflaming tensions rather than resolving them, according to a Home Affairs Committee report. The move was deemed 'ineffective' and reflected 'unfavourably on the culture of the Home Office.'

The report found the Birmingham Safety Advisory Group's decision to ban Israeli fans may have been 'unduly influenced by political pressure.' West Midlands Police admitted it 'overstated the evidence' used to justify the ban, including unverified AI-generated intelligence that 'reinforced false narratives' about Maccabi supporters.

Committee chair Karen Bradley said the 'extraordinary measure' to ban fans appeared designed to 'make policing the match much easier.' The report recommends removing elected politicians from Safety Advisory Groups and introducing a new category for 'matches of national significance.' West Midlands Police chief Craig Guildford retired following criticism, with MPs saying it was 'right' he stepped down so the force could rebuild trust.