Overview
- His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, led by Sir Andy Cooke, is expected to send its report on the policing of the November fixture to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Wednesday.
- West Midlands Police told MPs they held high-confidence intelligence that local individuals were preparing to arm themselves and target Israeli supporters before the match.
- Jonathan Hall KC said the intelligence could have supported an investigation for stirring up racial hatred and urged police to apply that offence more robustly.
- A reported group‑chat message linked to a local pro‑Palestine network called for activists to locate Maccabi players and act as spotters, which the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign says was deleted and did not reflect its views.
- Chief Constable Craig Guildford faces intensifying calls to step down as the police and crime commissioner awaits formal findings, while the force maintains its advice to bar travelling fans was based on safety evidence, including prior behaviour of Maccabi supporters.