Committee publication · Special Report · 29 April 2026 · HC 1859

4th Special Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban: Government Response

Summary

This is the Government's formal response to the Home Affairs Committee's Fifth Report on the November 2025 banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an Aston Villa UEFA Europa League match. The Government acknowledges concerns about policing transparency and proportionality, welcomes West Midlands Police's internal review and community engagement, and commits to exploring strengthened guidance for Safety Advisory Groups and potential designation criteria for nationally significant football matches, pending further inspections.

Key findings

Government recognises the strength of feeling and importance of ensuring policing decisions are transparent, proportionate, and grounded in operational evidence.
West Midlands Police have reviewed internal processes, engaged with affected communities, and committed to strengthening transparency for future high-risk matches; the then Chief Constable announced his retirement in January 2026.
The Cabinet Office UK Resilience Academy is reviewing Safety Advisory Group guidance to provide consistent expectations and stronger challenge capacity, with new guidance to be published.
Government does not currently recommend introducing a formal escalation mechanism for Safety Advisory Group decisions until cross-government issues (thresholds, responsibilities, intervention scope) are fully explored.
Officials across Home Office, DCMS, Cabinet Office, MHCLG and policing partners are actively developing options for designating events of national significance, pending the outcome of HMICFRS inspection of police contributions to Safety Advisory Groups.

Government position

Partially accepts the Committee's recommendations. On Safety Advisory Group escalation: defers formal escalation mechanism pending cross-government exploration of thresholds and decision-making structures. On political involvement in Safety Advisory Groups: agrees in principle that membership should be grounded in expertise; trusts local authorities to manage composition via existing discretion and notes the Cabinet Office review will set guidance. On national significance designation: recognises the merit of the proposal and is actively developing options across departments, but will await HMICFRS inspection findings before finalising proposals. The Government emphasises the need to balance central coordination with local operational independence and existing statutory responsibilities.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-orderpolicingsafeguardingsports-regulationcommunity-relations

Key actors

Home Affairs Committee, West Midlands Police, Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, Aston Villa FC, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cabinet Office UK Resilience Academy, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Baroness Casey

Notable line

“Safety Advisory Groups play an important role in assessing risk and supporting the safe delivery of events.”

Key Quotes

“Everyone should be able to attend football matches safely. The safe delivery of matches relies on close, constructive partnership between the police, local authorities, event organisers, and communities.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Introducing the Government's commitment to safe football match delivery

“We take seriously concerns raised about how those responsibilities were exercised in this case, and the impact this had on local and wider communities.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Acknowledging concerns about the policing of the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match

“The Government welcomes the steps taken in the West Midlands to reassure the public and rebuild confidence.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Endorsing West Midlands Police's response and internal review

“Safety Advisory Groups are non-statutory bodies and do not take binding decisions; responsibility for licensing and enforcing safety at sports grounds rests with local authorities under the existing legislative framework.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Explaining the statutory role and limitations of Safety Advisory Groups

“… we do not recommend introducing a formal escalation mechanism until these issues have been fully explored by cross-government partners and stakeholders, including the appropriate balance between local referral and central oversight.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Deferring the Committee's recommendation on escalation procedures

“The Government agrees that the membership of Safety Advisory Groups should continue to be grounded in operational, regulatory and technical expertise.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Responding to the recommendation to exclude elected politicians from Safety Advisory Groups

“… recent events have highlighted the need to examine whether national - level support and coordination could be improved in cases where risks extend beyond the local footprint or where wider community impacts or sensitivities require a more joined - up response.”
— Government (Home Affairs Committee Response) · Justifying the need to consider designation of nationally significant events

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