West Midlands PCC Under Fire: Calls for Resignation Over Maccabi Fan Ban

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, to resign. Chief Constable Craig Guildford stepped down on Friday after criticism of the decision to ban Israeli fans from a Europa League football match against Aston Villa in November. Stephen Silverman from the campaign group said there was an "institutional" problem. "The police and crime commissioner prevaricated, procrastinated, refused to get rid of Mr Guildford when it was quite clear that that was the only route possible," Silverman said. The commissioner has not commented on calls for him to resign. "It seems that there is an institutional problem within the force that is not just about the chief constable. "Clearly, with regard to the Maccabi Tel Aviv episode, it can't just have been Craig Guilford who had his fingers in this squalid mess, there must have been others in his leadership team who were equally culpable. "Now with the latest revelations, it looks like there's a problem within the force from top to bottom," he added. Foster, who had the power to dismiss the chief constable, welcomed the police chief's decision to retire on Friday. He said Guildford had "acted with honour and in the best interests of West Midlands Police".