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Dutch Report Challenges Rationale for Villa Park Ban on Maccabi Fans

Calls grow for an independent review of West Midlands Police after media say Amsterdam findings conflict with the force’s account.

Overview

  • The Jewish Chronicle reports it has seen an official Dutch document that appears to contradict West Midlands Police’s description of violence involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam.
  • GB News says the Dutch report by Amsterdam’s police chief and chief prosecutor describes Israeli fans as targets of organized attacks and notes they do not have a violent reputation.
  • The Dutch account, as reported, records 59 arrests with only 10 Israeli nationals detained, challenging WMP assertions that large numbers of Maccabi supporters engaged in hate‑motivated crimes.
  • Senior politicians including Andrew Mitchell and Lord McCabe are urging WMP to release its communications and risk assessments in full to explain the decision to bar away fans at Villa Park.
  • Background from the Dutch trial includes WhatsApp messages referring to a “Jew hunt” and reports of multiple injuries, which were cited in UK safety deliberations before the ban was enforced.