Soccer Game Incites International Attention

Liz Denton

Staff Writer 

A soccer game in Amsterdam ended in rioting and conflicts between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups on Friday, November 8, after a 5-0 win by the Netherlands’ soccer team Ajax over Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Associated Press reports that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were running and acting destructively while rioters moved in small groups attacking Maccabi fans. Sixty-two people were arrested and rumors of missing people and hostage-taking later proved to be unfounded surfaced. Police say it is not clear who started the unrest, but eight people were taken into custody during the investigation. These recent happenings reflect the rising antisemitic speech, vandalism, and violence in Europe since the start of the war in Gaza.

On Wednesday, November 6, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans began arriving for the much-anticipated Europa League game. After consulting with police, the teams, authorities on soccer hooliganism, and the Union of European Football Association, Amsterdam’s municipal security committee had said the game was not high-risk and there was no animosity between the two sets of supporters, reports NBC News. The evening passed relatively peacefully with most conflict occurring online through social media and messaging apps, and four people were arrested for spraying pro-Palestinian graffiti at the arena the game was set to take place.

On Thursday, tensions amplified, as crowds ripped down two Palestinian flags. Later, the crowd split up and some began attacking a nearby taxi, reports NBC News. In the afternoon, a large amount of Maccabi supporters gathered in the city’s central Dam Square. Videos shared on social media show fans chanting anti-Arab slogans. Pro-Palestinian groups had initially planned to protest outside the arena during the game, but the mayor moved them to a remote location.

Friday, November 8, NBC News reports, brought forth the most destruction. Maccabi fans in the area were repeatedly targeted in hit-and-run assaults by pro-Palestinian rioters and a large group of Maccabi supporters were seen in the Dam Square area with sticks used to commit vandalism and assault. Police struggled to control the violence, ending in some fans being injured.

The Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof says he has been following the antisemitic attacks with horror, according to NPR, and Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, plans to travel to the Netherlands for an urgent unplanned visit regarding this incident. Femke Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam, had attempted to involve Dutch counterterrorism officials in the time leading up to the soccer match but had been informed there were no concrete threats involving either the players or fans and has since condemned the hit-and-run attacks on visiting fans. Authorities have banned demonstrations throughout the weekend. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, asked the Dutch Prime Minister to provide more security for Israelis after the attacks. Israeli air carrier El Al has sent planes to Amsterdam to evacuate Israelis after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it was standing down on a previous plan to immediately deploy a rescue mission to the city. The IDF has barred soldiers from flying to Amsterdam but said it will examine requests individually, reports Fox News. Israel has also added more phone lines at the embassy and in the Foreign Ministry’s situation room. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the anti-Arab slogans and hostile actions by the Israeli football club in Amsterdam.

In light of the attacks in Amsterdam, thousands of police officers were deployed across Paris for the Nations League game between France and Israel, with a focus at the Stade de France stadium. NBC News reports around 4,000 officers will be on duty with about 2,400 deployed to ensure security around the Stade de France. Some 1,500 deployed elsewhere across the city, as well. In addition to the heavy police force, a number of volunteers with Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (The Human Rights League), a French organization aiming to observe and defend human rights, were positioned outside the stadium to observe the police’s handling of the event. The attendance for the game is expected to be low, with Israel warning its citizens against attending sporting events abroad. 

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