'We have witnessed a failure of leadership'

“To give all these issues full and proper consideration, I will be taking this matter to a meeting of my Accountability and Governance Board, held in public, on January 27 and asking questions of the Chief Constable.”

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Sixteen days before the match, the force was told that it was wrong to ban supporters from attending the Europa League fixture.

West Midlands Police initially claimed away fans could not attend because of hooliganism fears.

It said there were 500 “hardcore Maccabi supporters” who were “very well organised, uncooperative and militaristic” and accused of carrying out “indiscriminate attacks on Muslim taxi drivers, flag burning, marches and Islamophobic chanting” during a previous match in Amsterdam.

But the force later admitted they feared locals were plotting to attack Israeli supporters, with some even preparing to carry weapons.

Ms Mahmood told MPs: “What is clear from this report is that, on an issue of huge significance to the Jewish community in this country, and to us all, we have witnessed a failure of leadership that has harmed the reputation and eroded public confidence in West Midlands Police and policing more broadly.

Faced by a game of such importance, the Chief Constable of the force, Craig Guildford, should have ensured more professional and thorough work was done.

“As Sir Andy himself says, the shortcomings detailed in his report are symptomatic of a force not applying the necessary strategic oversight and not paying enough attention to important details, including at the most senior levels.