When policing, football and politics collide | Letters

By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion

Readers reflect on the West Midlands police chief stepping down after the row over banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans Your editorial argues that “Policing has become more party political” ( The Guardian view on Craig Guildford’s departure: right decision, dangerous implications, 16 January ). Yet calls for chief constable Craig Guildford to resign or be sacked came from across the main political spectrum, backed up by a near-consensus in the media. Either no one was aware that away fans have been banned in other football matches (such as the “Old Firm” Glasgow derby ) or that some Maccabi Tel Aviv fans “had form” (confirmed by a suspended one-match ban after the game against Stuttgart). The one other explanation – that, despite their reputation, an exception had to be made because of the nationality of the club the fans supported – indicates that the entire political and media establishment leapt to the wrong conclusion about antisemitism, but demanded a scapegoat regardless, until they got the resignation they wanted. The home secretary then made a grab to centralise power to ensure that other chief constables got the message and know what will happen if they make a similar decision in the future. The “dangerous implications” are already here. Derrick Cameron Stoke-on-Trent Continue reading...