West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has issued a formal apology to members of parliament after the force provided misleading evidence regarding the controversial ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a match at Aston Villa. The apology comes ahead of a parliamentary hearing where Guildford and Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara will clarify previous statements, including claims that Birmingham's Jewish community supported the ban, which were not substantiated by documented feedback.

The ban, imposed over concerns about potential violence and racist incidents, has drawn criticism from political leaders and the football club, who argue that incidents involving Maccabi fans were misrepresented. The police have since released further details about their risk assessment, but questions remain about the accuracy of their intelligence and the process that led to the ban. Birmingham City Council has announced an independent review of the decision, while scrutiny continues over how the case was handled by both police and local authorities.