Police chief at centre of Maccabi fan ban row received £57.8k exit payout

Former West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford received a £57,800 exit payment after leaving his post following the force’s handling of Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, newly published financial accounts have revealed.

Draft accounts for West Midlands Police for 2025/26 show Guildford received the payment as “compensation for loss of office” when he retired in January. They also list his annual basic salary as £220,000 with £65,900 in pension contributions.

Guildford stepped down after months of criticism over the force’s planning for Aston Villa’s home fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv in November 2025.

West Midlands Police had recommended banning away supporters from attending the match on public safety grounds. Although the proposal was ultimately rejected, the force’s handling of the fixture triggered political scrutiny, parliamentary hearings and an independent inspection.

Earlier this year, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke identified failings in the force’s preparations. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the findings as “damning” and said she no longer had confidence in Guildford.

West Midlands Police also apologised after wrongly telling MPs that members of the Jewish community had backed the proposed ban. It later emerged that an intelligence report submitted by the force mistakenly included a reference to a previous Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture against West Ham United that had never taken place, after AI-generated information was incorporated into the document.

Guildford later acknowledged the mistake and apologised.

His evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee also came under criticism after he admitted the force had intelligence suggesting local individuals wanted to arm themselves to target Israeli supporters, information that had not initially been disclosed to MPs.

Responding to the publication of accounts, a spokesperson for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said: “On the 16 January, the former Chief Constable Craig Guildford retired with immediate effect. There is no mechanism via which a Police and Crime Commissioner can prevent a Chief Constable from retiring or resigning.

“Mr Guildford stepped down following months of scrutiny from the PCC and many others after West Midlands Police made the decision to recommend to the Birmingham City Council Safety Advisory Group a ban on away fans attending the Europa League football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv on 6 November 2025.

“The Commissioner has to act in accordance with due process and the law. Mr Guildford was legally entitled to 3 months’ pay in lieu of notice, plus any outstanding leave. He received no more than the bare minimum he was contractually entitled to.

“The alternative was for Mr Guildford to remain in post until April 2026, work his 3-month notice period, and be paid his salary as Chief Constable, continuing to make operational decisions and lead the force.

“This would clearly not have been in the interests of the public or West Midlands Police. Retirement with immediate effect was both the most efficient and cost-effective outcome and ensured continuity of operational leadership within West Midlands Police.”

Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg previously welcomed Guildford’s departure, saying it was right he had left following the force’s “calamitous handling” of the fixture and its aftermath.