Former West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford received a £57,800 taxpayer-funded payout upon his retirement in January, following fierce criticism over his force's recommendation to ban Israeli football fans from attending a match. Guildford retired with immediate effect on January 16 after both Downing Street and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated they had lost confidence in his leadership. The controversy centered on his decision to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6, 2025. The ban recommendation was based on intelligence later described as exaggerated and untrue, including claims that up to 600 Maccabi supporters attacked Muslim neighborhoods in Amsterdam, pushed fans into canals, and that 200 supporters had links to the Israeli military; Dutch police found no evidence for these claims. Guildford acknowledged that flawed AI-generated information played a role, admitting to using Microsoft Copilot, which created details of a fictional match between Maccabi and West Ham. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy called the payout a disgrace, and the TaxPayers' Alliance condemned it. A spokesman for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner explained that Guildford was legally entitled to three months' pay in lieu of notice and any outstanding leave, receiving no more than the contractual minimum.