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  • 4 hours ago
A cross-party committee says a late government attempt to overturn a ban on visiting supporters “inflamed tensions” ahead of a Europa League match in Birmingham. The report also raises concerns about West Midlands Police evidence, political influence, and the use of AI.

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00:00A report by the Home Affairs Committee has concluded that the government efforts to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel
00:07Aviv supporters attending a Europa League match in Birmingham were late and ineffective.
00:12The committee said the invention did little to resolve the situation and may have heightened tensions surrounding the fixture at
00:19Aston Villa in November.
00:22Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group ruled that away fans should not be permitted to attend, citing safety concerns based on evidence
00:30presented by West Midlands Police.
00:32The force has since acknowledged that some of the information it supplied overstated the risks.
00:37The report found that the use of artificial intelligence in preparing police material led to inaccurate and unverified claims, including
00:46references to a non-existent match.
00:48MPs said senior officers showed a lack of professional curiosity, but found no evidence of anti-Semitic motivation.
00:56The committee also said political influence in the advisory group's decision could not be ruled out and recommended that elected
01:04politicians should no longer sit on such bodies.
01:07The Home Office said it had sought ways for fans to attend safely and that lessons must be learned from
01:13the events surrounding the ban.
01:15In its conclusions, the Home Affairs Committee suggested creating a new category for matches that are deemed nationally significant.
01:23Additionally, Birmingham City Council has commissioned an independent review.
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