A report faulted police for relying on “hallucinations,” ignoring contrary evidence and failing to consult the local Jewish community before the Maccabi ban.
Senior British police relied on false, AI-generated information to justify banning Israeli soccer fans in Birmingham last year, ignoring contradictory facts and failing to consult local Jews, a British parliamentary committee said on Sunday.
These findings were part of a Home Affairs Committee report on the decision of the West Midlands Police to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa team in Birmingham in November.
The report confirmed many allegations by critics in the media and beyond. The exclusion of Israelis in Birmingham became an international scandal that underlined authorities’ failures in confronting anti-Israel vitriol, including when it targeted local Jews.