The Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv was tarnished on Thursday by violent clashes which broke out on the sidelines of the event. Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters describe scenes of chaos.
The latest report shows 62 arrests and five people briefly hospitalized. In Amsterdam, Thursday November 7, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were attacked after attending a Europa League match against Ajax, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. “There is no excuse for the anti-Semitic behavior demonstrated last night by the rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them,” the city of Amsterdam denounced in a statement. Before the match, incidents had already broken out following provocative acts by Israeli fans.
>> LIVE – Attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam: all the information and reactions
The Dutch press surveyed several witnesses on the Israeli side to try to better understand how the incidents unfolded. A Maccabi supporter told AD media how the atmosphere in the city center had radically changed just after the match whereas before kick-off, “we were partying with Ajax supporters” . He claims to have seen groups of 10 to 15 people, mostly young people, dressed in black hooded sweatshirts, moving quickly on scooters to fight.
A “terrifying” situation
“They seemed very organized and knew exactly where to gather,” he says. He managed to take refuge in his hotel without incident. But his anxiety did not subside over the hours. “We heard loud explosions. We saw people knocking on the hotel door, which fortunately was locked.” One of his friends was allegedly beaten with his brother as they got off a subway. Still worried about his safety, he asked an Israeli friend to drop him off at the airport because he says he “no longer trusts” public transport or taxis.
A first plane carrying Israelis evacuated from Amsterdam landed in the afternoon at Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv's international airport. Other Maccabi supporters criticize the police for not having reacted quickly enough. This is the case of Yehuda, interviewed by AD, according to whom there were not enough police officers in the center despite a “terrifying” situation. For their part, the Dutch police explained that they had noted “violence” on Wednesday evening between supporters “on both sides”, in particular the destruction of a taxi by Maccabi supporters or the burning of a Palestinian flag.
“It really felt like it was war. We had a great evening at the stadium, despite the defeat. But what happened afterward, I can't even describe it. It really felt like hatred “, testified a Maccabi supporter to the daily De Telegraaf. “I've never been so scared. My dad was kicked badly in the leg and hip. He's having trouble walking. We didn't sleep last night,” another fan shared attacked, who had initially planned to stay there for four days. “But my family begged me to come back. It's a shame, you have such a beautiful country.”
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