Hakim Ziyech, Turkish Galatasaray player, outraged by his reaction to the attacks suffered by Maccabé Tel Aviv players in Amsterdam. Born and raised in Holland, the player mocked Jews by commenting on the “fleeing” of supporters. “When it’s not women and children, they run away,” he wrote on Instagram. A reference to the conflict in the Middle East. He concludes his post with “Free Palestine”. A football player praising attacks from fans is not very sporting.
What are they about? Yesterday, Thursday November 7, in Amsterdam, Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters were attacked after attending a Europa League match against Ajax. There were also attacks before the match against fans of the Israeli team. Five people were hospitalized, according to Dutch authorities who arrested more than 62 attackers.
The attack on supporters caused a stir in Europe where several heads of state condemned a “pogrom”. “The violence against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam recalls the most shameful hours in history,” commented French President Emmanuel Macron.
Olaf Scholz, for his part, denounced “unbearable” acts. “Reports of violence against Israeli supporters in Amsterdam are unbearable. We cannot accept this,” he wrote on X, clarifying that “whoever attacks Jews attacks all of us.” The German Foreign Minister spoke of “deeply shameful” images.
On the UEFA side it’s the same reaction”: “UEFA strongly condemns the incidents and acts of violence which took place this Thursday evening in the city of Amsterdam before and after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv”, published the continental body via a document relayed by Sky Sports.
Ajax, the team against which Maccabé Tel Aviv played, condemned this violence. “We were horrified to learn of what happened in central Amsterdam last night. We strongly condemn this violence,” she reacted on social networks.
