A major policing controversy in the United Kingdom is raising uncomfortable questions that may resonate on this side of the Atlantic. Craig Guildford, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, is under intense scrutiny following the decision to force a high-profile soccer match to be played in an empty stadium, a move critics allege punished Jewish fans for the threat posed by their would-be attackers.
The Empty Stadium Decision
The incident centres on a UEFA Europa League match on November 6, 2025, between Birmingham's Aston Villa and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv. The game proceeded before roughly 43,000 empty seats on the advice of West Midlands Police. Authorities claimed the decision was based on public safety concerns stemming from alleged violence by Maccabi supporters at a match in Amsterdam in October 2024.
Police asserted that Dutch counterparts had warned of "serious assaults," including fans throwing people into canals and targeting Muslims. They estimated needing 5,000 officers to manage the match if fans were allowed, framing the choice as one between danger and prohibitive cost.
The Narrative Unravels
Subsequent investigations have severely undermined the police's justification. Dutch police have denied providing the alleged warnings and disputed the account of events in Amsterdam. In fact, at least four individuals were convicted and jailed for assaults committed against Maccabi supporters.
Furthermore, minutes from local committee meetings discussing the match, later published by a House of Commons committee, revealed a curious omission. The issue of violence in Amsterdam never appears in the official minutes, contradicting the public rationale given for the unprecedented empty-stadium order.
The Real Reason Revealed?
Facing political backlash, Chief Constable Guildford commissioned a review from Mark Roberts, head of the UK Football Policing Unit. Roberts' report did little to support the original story. It concluded that the primary concern was not Maccabi fans, but "high confidence intelligence" that referenced "elements of the community in West Midlands wanting to 'arm' themselves."
As journalist Chris Selley notes, by "elements of the community," it was clearly not referring to Jewish fans, but to those who hate them. With nearly 10% of the West Midlands population identifying as Muslim according to the 2021 census, the police force appears to have been so fearful of potential clashes that it opted to cancel normal civic life rather than robustly guarantee safety for all.
The scandal has become emblematic of a disturbing pattern: Jews being effectively punished for their own potential victimization. Selley argues this is not a uniquely British phenomenon, suggesting similar failures in policing and public protection can and do happen in Canada, warranting close attention from both the public and oversight bodies.
