A committee of MPs has concluded that political pressure may have influenced the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa. The Home Affairs Committee found that Birmingham councillors had a "disproportionate opportunity to exert influence" on the Safety Advisory Group's decision, which was based on advice from West Midlands Police.

The controversy deepened when a review revealed that an "AI hallucination" from Microsoft Copilot had helped justify the ban by referencing a non-existent game between Tel Aviv and West Ham. Chief Constable Craig Guildford resigned following mounting pressure over the incident. The committee stated that while they cannot definitively prove political influence, they also cannot rule it out with confidence.

The report recommends that the Cabinet Office ban local councillors from sitting on Safety Advisory Groups to prevent politically motivated decisions. Chair Dame Karen Bradley called the ban an "extraordinary measure" and emphasized the need to rebuild trust, particularly with Jewish communities. The committee also criticized ministers, including the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, for escalating tensions through late public interventions that increased the profile of the fixture and associated risks.