False Microsoft AI Data in Police Maccabi Tel Aviv Ban

A UK parliamentary report has criticised West Midlands Police and the government for their handling of a decision to ban supporters of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football club from a Europa League match in Birmingham last year. The report found the police recommendation relied on false, AI-generated information about a non-existent prior match to classify fans as high-risk.

The incident centred on the November 2023 game between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. West Midlands Police’s safety assessment, used to support its call for a fan ban, cited fabricated details from Microsoft Copilot AI. The report by the Home Affairs Committee stated the police force displayed a “that’ll do” attitude, seemingly believing a ban would simplify match-day policing.

The British government’s subsequent intervention to block the ban was also condemned. Committee Chair Karen Bradley said the late and “clumsy” move “did little more than inflame tensions” and rejected the government’s claim it could only act after a local decision was finalised.

The committee did not rule out political influence in the initial proposal by Birmingham City Council’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG). It highlighted the involvement of Councillor Mumtaz Hussain, who had previously lobbied against Israeli fans on political grounds but failed to recuse herself from SAG deliberations until partway through the process. The report stated councilors “had a disproportionate opportunity to influence” the group’s decision on a “deeply divisive political issue,” partly due to Birmingham’s significant pro-Palestinian sentiment amid the Gaza conflict.

The police were also faulted for failing to consult local Jewish communities on the potential ban while engaging other groups. The scandal led to the resignation of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford. The force, the UK’s fourth largest, has a historical record of serious misconduct, including the disbanded Serious Crime Squad in the 1980s, which was linked to over 60 quashed convictions amid allegations of evidence tampering and falsified confessions.

The report concluded that rebuilding trust with all communities is vital, demanding that West Midlands Police repair the damage caused by the episode. It underscores ongoing concerns about operational decision-making, the use of emerging technology, and the management of politically sensitive public order events.