The charge levelled against the West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council in respect of the football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv is, essentially, that the force and the local authority have failed in their duty to protect the lawful rights of the Israeli fans wishing to attend.
The charge is a serious one and has been echoed by the leaders of all the main political parties, except for the Greens. Many public figures, including Sir Keir Starmer, have asked for the decision to be reviewed.
