The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating former West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford, along with three other police officers and one staff member. The investigation centers on the handling of a football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Aston Villa, which took place in Birmingham last year.

During the lead-up to the event, authorities implemented a ban preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the game. The IOPC is now reviewing whether the decision-making process behind this restriction was appropriate and if it adhered to professional standards. While the BBC reports the investigation as a general inquiry into the ban, The Independent specifies that the investigation is looking into potential gross misconduct regarding the restriction of the fans' attendance.

There is a slight variation in the characterization of the investigation’s scope. The BBC frames the situation as an investigation into the ban itself, involving multiple personnel. The Independent provides more specific detail, explicitly labeling the nature of the investigation as a gross misconduct probe. Both outlets agree that the central issue involves the actions taken by West Midlands Police leadership during the planning of the 2023 fixture.