Organised extremist groups are attempting to drive Jewish people out of football, according to the Government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann.

His warning comes amid ongoing controversy over West Midlands Police’s decision to ban supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending their match against Aston Villa in Birmingham last November.

In a letter to Dame Karen Bradley, chair of Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee, ahead of its questioning of senior police and council officials, Lord Mann said there was an active campaign by extremists to intimidate Jewish people and their perceived allies within football.

“The intimidation has been so severe,” he wrote, “that police protection and advice has been required from several forces, some of it ongoing.” He added that individuals had been targeted personally, with threats affecting their employment, families and homes.

Lord Mann said incidents he had dealt with spanned large parts of the UK, including Scotland, London, the Midlands and the North and South East of England, warning that the cases known to him were likely only “the tip of the iceberg”.

A long-standing investigator of antisemitism in football, Mann also co-authored the Board of Deputies’ 2025 report on the issue. In his letter, he noted that the decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans involved numerous bodies, including Birmingham City Council, the Sports Ground Safety Authority, the National Football Policing Unit, two government departments and UEFA.

He urged MPs to develop a clearer and more consistent approach to such situations, warning that Israeli teams were likely to face UK clubs again, possibly as soon as next season.

The letter was published as West Midlands Police leaders faced renewed pressure from politicians and Jewish community figures following a select committee hearing into the ban. Recently disclosed intelligence suggested Israeli supporters could have faced violence if they attended the match, including claims that some local individuals were considering arming themselves.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford told MPs this intelligence had not been shared earlier because he had not been specifically asked for it. Senior Birmingham City Council officials were also questioned about the role of councillors who had publicly opposed the fixture while sitting on the Safety Advisory Group that endorsed the fan ban.

Following the hearing, Lord Mann said there were “no surprises” in the evidence heard and suggested further details were yet to emerge. Photo by joshjdss, Wikimedia commons.