Amsterdam in shock after a night of violence following an explosive Football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Supporters targeted, injured, arrests… A look back at these events which sparked indignation.
An evening of football turned into a nightmare on Thursday evening in Amsterdam, when violent clashes broke out on the sidelines of the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. These incidents, which shocked by their intensity, are part of a context of pre-existing intercommunity tensions, exacerbated by the sporting event. A look back at a night of chaos which sparked a wave of international indignation.
An explosive meeting against a backdrop of tensions
Since the announcement of the confrontation between the Dutch club and its Israeli counterpart, concern has been growing about the risks of excesses. And for good reason: the day before the match, clashes broke out between supporters of the two camps in the city center of Amsterdam. According to a police source, flags were torn down and set on fire, and a taxi vandalized by Maccabi fans.
On D-day, despite a major security system deployed with nearly 800 police officers, the atmosphere was electric around the Johan Cruyff stadium. The town hall had to relocate a pro-Palestinian rally initially planned nearby for security reasons. The Israeli supporters, gathered under close surveillance in Dam Square before joining the enclosure, were visibly on the defensive.
Clashes of rare violence
It was at the end of the match, won 3-1 by Ajax, that the most serious incidents broke out. Despite the significant police presence still in place, Israeli supporters were violently attacked by what the authorities described as “scooter hooligans” in several neighborhoods of the city.
Around 1 a.m., a large group of Maccabi fans found themselves surrounded and attacked in Dam Square. Law enforcement intervened on multiple occasions to protect and escort Israeli supporters to their hotels, but were unable to prevent several of them from being injured, five of whom had to be briefly hospitalized. In total, 62 people were arrested during this night of chaos.
Shocking images and an ongoing investigation
The day after the events, videos began to circulate on social networks, causing shock and indignation. On some, we can see dozens of Israeli supporters, visibly excited, singing songs hostile to the Arabs. But the most shocking images remain those showing individuals beating Maccabi fans to the ground.
Amsterdam police said they were analyzing these videos as part of the investigation into the violence. The objective: to establish a precise image of the course of events and identify those responsible. Several dozen investigators were mobilized to exploit the city’s numerous video surveillance images.
Strong reactions and evacuation of Israeli supporters
Faced with the seriousness of the facts and the international impact of the affair, official reactions were quick to respond. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, strongly condemned this “explosion of anti-Semitism”, while the UN and the EU expressed their indignation. French President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, denounced violence reminiscent of “the most shameful hours in history”, and the German authorities deemed it “shameful for Europe”.
On the Israeli side, the reaction was strong. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded “vigorous and swift” action from Dutch authorities against the “rioters,” and instructed the Mossad to plan measures to prevent such incidents at sporting events. Several planes were chartered to repatriate Israeli supporters, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had to urgently go to Amsterdam.
The specter of intercommunity tensions
Beyond the shock caused by the raw violence of the clashes, it is the anti-Semitic dimension of the attacks which arouses deep concern. Many observers see it as a manifestation of intercommunal tensions, fueled by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which simmer beneath the surface of Dutch society.
A bitter observation for many, which reminds us that sport, rather than uniting around shared values, can also serve as an outlet for the worst inclinations. The incidents in Amsterdam raise painful questions about the persistence of anti-Semitism and the ongoing challenge of living together. Questions that must be answered, so that the football field never again turns into a community battlefield.
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