Internal report on events in hours before Maccabi Tel Aviv game from which fans were banned reveals players were hunted and groups looked for a fight
January 11, 2026 15:09
West Midlands Police (WMP) are accused of a “cover-up” for claiming the match from which Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned was “peaceful” despite officers knowing the Israeli team was being hunted and groups were looking for a fight.
The revelations have come in the official internal police record of events around the fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6 last year, known as the ‘Silver Command Log’.
The document, first reported on in the Telegraph and also seen by the JC, is heavily redacted but still provides telling and disturbing details in entries throughout the day.
It reveals that at 6.09am the Israeli team's unmarked coach "was greeted by four individuals, stood on the opposite side of the road, filming [and] taking photos on mobile phones”.
At 10.09am, an update reveals the coach driver reported “the team's hotel location may be on TikTok”.
The threat level appeared to rise still further in the afternoon as the evening kick-off approached.
At 4:38pm, the log states that there were “groups of Asian youths looking to fight" and that officers had been "deployed".
Minutes later, at 4.52pm, it states, "50-60 youths coming down... towards Aston Park".
Then at 5.43pm, as the Maccabi coach made its way to Vila Park, it is reported “15 to 20 youths masked up and heading in the direction of the stadium”.
But the log entry at 7.14pm reveals the force decided on a public narrative that seems to bear little relation to the reports from its officers.
It reads: "Statement is going on social media to say it has been largely peaceful, few arrests, etc at present - to dampen down any online sentiment and prevent this being over-dramatised."
The revelations come as the force is mired in controversy over its ban on Maccabi fans. Critics allege Chief Constable Craig Guildford and other senior officers have misled MPs and the public with their claims that the Israeli supporters would be a threat, and the force is accused of giving in to pressure from extremists.
Lord Walney, former Labour MP and the government's former advisor on political violence, told the Telegraph: “This fiasco started out looking like timidity from West Midlands Police in the face of vocal local Muslims, but this latest revelation suggests it has become a systematic cover-up.
“The more chief constable Guildford has tried to double down and deny the force’s initial cowardice, the worse the scandal has become.
"Like Nixon at Watergate and countless other wrongdoing, it is the cover-up that will tarnish his reputation until he does the decent thing and resigns."
WMP have been contacted for comment.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.