Britain's crime commissioner for the West Midlands has announced the immediate retirement of the region's police chief, Craig Guildford, following criticism over the handling of a ban on Israeli soccer fans. The ban, which prevented supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a match at Aston Villa, was based on incorrect information generated by artificial intelligence. This decision sparked diplomatic tensions, especially in the wake of a recent antisemitic attack and ongoing conflict in Gaza. The retirement comes after the interior minister expressed a lack of confidence in Guildford, citing a damning report from the police watchdog that highlighted multiple failings within the force.
image sourced from original article at https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uk-regional-police-chief-retires-over-handling-of-ban-on-maccabi-tel-aviv-fans/Original article source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uk-regional-police-chief-retires-over-handling-of-ban-on-maccabi-tel-aviv-fans/
Source Id: 2026-01-952466995


