Maccabi Tel Aviv player calls on UEFA to sanction Ziyech for provocative message

Israeli international and Maccabi Tel-Aviv player Eran Zahavi called for sanctions against Hakim Ziyech on Friday. The Dutch-born Moroccan international posted a message to mock Israeli fans attacked on the sidelines of the Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam.

The indignation does not subside after the violence on the sidelines of the Europa League match played Thursday in Amsterdam between Ajax and the Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv. After the match won by the Dutch (5-0), visiting supporters were victims of attacks in the streets of the Batavian capital while other incidents had already broken out ahead of the continental duel due to provocative acts of the Maccabi fans.

>> All the information on the attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam

If UEFA has confirmed that it wants to study all the evidence at its disposal to avoid such acts in the future around the Maccabi Tel-Aviv matches, the body chaired by Aleksander Ceferin will perhaps also have to look into the Hakim case Ziyesh.

Born in the Netherlands and passed through Heerenveen and Ajax before flying to Chelsea and Galasaray, the Moroccan international made a provocative message on social networks on Friday. Relaying a video of the violence against Israeli fans, the Atlas Lions winger commented: “When it's not women and children, they run away.” In an obvious reference to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“Stupid supporter of terror”

Anxious to affirm his support for the Palestinian people, Hakim Ziyech continued his position by also displaying the slogan “Free Palestina” in his publication on Instagram. A message which led to an equally virulent response from Eran Zahavi.

Former Palermo player and serial scorer for PSV between 2020 and 2022, the Maccabi Tel-Aviv striker called for sanctions against the Moroccan.

“Stupid supporter of terror,” said the man who played a few minutes during the defeat of the Israeli club in C3. All accompanied by a “middle finger” emoji and concluded with a request to UEFA: “UEFA, I hope you see him and punish him.”

In France, in particular, the attacks by Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters caused a strong reaction six days before the organization of the Nations League match between the Blues and Israel at the Stade de France.