Here is what we know about the events that sparked outrage around the world, with US President Joe Biden calling the violence “anti-Semitic” and “despicable”. In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its part condemned “the anti-Arab chants by Israelis and the attack on the Palestinian flag in Amsterdam”.
Already tensions on Wednesday
Tensions were already at their height before Thursday evening's Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv (5-0). From Wednesday, isolated clashes took place between supporters of Ajax, Maccabi and the Turkish club Fenerbahce, which was playing against another Dutch club, AZ Alkmaar, the head of the police told journalists. 'Amsterdam, Peter Holla.
Maccabi supporters burned a Palestinian flag in the central Dam Square and vandalized a taxi. Taxi drivers mobilized to attack 400 Maccabi supporters at the Holland Casino. The police intervened to escort the supporters out of the casino, explained Peter Holla.
A few isolated incidents took place around the casino, but according to the police chief, calm returned to the city around 3:30 a.m.
Incidents before the match on Thursday
A large group of Maccabi supporters gathered in Dam Square around 1 p.m. Thursday, according to the police chief. A few “incidents” took place and fireworks were set off. “In general, the police were able to keep large groups at bay,” said Peter Holla.
The police calmly escorted a thousand supporters from the square to the central station. The authorities had moved a pro-Palestinian demonstration, but small groups broke away in search of clashes in the stadium area, detailed the police chief.
In a video posted on social media, the origin of which could not be verified, what appear to be fans of the Maccabi club chant in Hebrew “May the IDF [NDLR : armée israélienne] won ! We're going to fuck the Arabs! » The police managed to keep the groups at bay thanks to riot police and mounted police.
The match ultimately took place in a generally calm atmosphere. However, some Israeli supporters did not respect the minute of silence in memory of the victims of the floods in Spain, a country which recently recognized the State of Palestine.
“After the match, leaving the stadium went well. Around 11 p.m., the situation around the stadium was calm,” said Peter Holla.
Attacks in the city center after the meeting
After the match, groups of individuals attacked Maccabi supporters before fleeing on scooters between each attack, in several neighborhoods of the city. Five people were briefly hospitalized.
The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, spoke at a press conference of groups of individuals targeting supporters of the Israeli club, hitting and kicking them. “It’s an explosion of anti-Semitism that I hope to never see again,” declared the elected official, who said she was “ashamed” of this violence.
Videos authenticated by AFP show groups of individuals stalking Israeli supporters, throwing objects at them, hitting them and mistreating them. Between 20 and 30 Maccabi fans suffered injuries.
