Israeli Soccer Fans commit Hate Crimes in the Netherlands

The answer by sportmanship on the field was clear: Ajax Amsterdam beat Maccabi Haifa 5 : 0.

On November 7, 2024, following the UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, significant disturbances occurred involving Israeli football fans. Reports indicate that after the game, hundreds of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters clashed with local authorities and engaged in violent behavior in the city center. The Israeli government responded by dispatching two planes to Amsterdam to facilitate the return of these hooligans.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of violent and racist behavior associated with Israeli football supporters. A 2023 report by the New Israel Fund’s “Kick Racism and Violence Out of Israeli Soccer” program documented a record number of racist and violent incidents in Israel’s Premier League, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing such behavior among football fans.

These events underscore the persistent issue of hooliganism and racism within segments of Israeli football fandom, both domestically and internationally. Efforts to combat this behavior continue, but incidents like the one in Amsterdam demonstrate the need for ongoing vigilance and intervention by football authorities and law enforcement agencies.

Timeline of Events on November 7, 2024

Morning – Pre-Match Atmosphere

• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Early arrivals of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters include groups known for their extreme nationalist views. Reports emerge of confrontational behavior in cafes and public areas, with chants that include anti-Arab and anti-European sentiments. Maccabi Hooligans tear down Palestinian flags and vandalize property.
• 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Smaller clashes occur involving Maccabi fans who shout slurs directed at Ajax supporters and bystanders. Videos later circulated on social media show individuals using discriminatory language.

Afternoon – Build-Up to the Game

• 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Groups of Maccabi supporters congregate in public squares, singing songs with overtly nationalist and inflammatory messages. Witnesses note the use of symbols and gestures considered offensive or politically charged.
• 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Maccabi fans provoke local residents and Ajax supporters in transit to the stadium. Reports indicate that some fans display banners and signs containing xenophobic messages, which draw concern from onlookers.

Evening – The Match

• 7:30 PM: Before the match kicks off Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters refuse to observe a minute of silence for the victims of the flooding in Spain and disrupted it with yelling racist slurs while the rest of the stadium stands in silence. Makabi fans sing about destroying Palestinian schools and killing Palestinian children.
• 7:45 PM: The match kicks off, and inside the stadium, some Maccabi fans are observed shouting racial slurs at Ajax’s diverse fanbase. UEFA’s match observers later note that sections of the away crowd engaged in discriminatory chants.
• 8:30 PM: Scuffles break out in certain stands, with Maccabi fans using inflammatory language. Security intervenes to separate groups but tensions remain high.
• 9:30 PM: As the game ends, some Maccabi fans begin making their way out, but a portion of the group lingers to taunt Ajax supporters. Verbal confrontations include slurs and aggressive behavior, leading to minor physical altercations.

Night – Post-Match Violence

• 10:00 PM: Hundreds of Maccabi fans flood the city center, with more intense provocations. They chant slogans that include racist epithets ( “Let the IDF rape Arabs!”) directed at both local citizens and Ajax fans. The atmosphere shifts to one of clear intimidation as property damage begins, with some fans overturning trash cans and defacing public property with graffiti that carries nationalist and racist messages.
• 10:30 PM: The violence escalates, with Maccabi fans throwing objects at police officers and locals who approach the scene. Offensive symbols and anti-Muslim slogans are reported. Some eyewitnesses recount seeing groups assaulting individuals perceived to be supporters of Ajax or people of different ethnic backgrounds.
• 11:00 PM: Clashes between Maccabi fans and riot police result in injuries. Videos capture moments where individuals in the Maccabi group incite violence, shout slurs, and physically push bystanders. Acts of vandalism spread to shopfronts and public transit areas, with reports of broken windows and damaged vehicles.
• 11:30 PM: The Israeli government begins coordinating with Dutch authorities in response to the escalating situation, recognizing the severity of offenses committed by certain fan groups.

Late Night – Response and Aftermath

• 12:00 AM: Arrests of particularly violent and aggressive Maccabi supporters are made as law enforcement works to control the chaos. Reports confirm that many of those apprehended were involved in inciting racist chants and partaking in physical confrontations.
• 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM: Most of the crowd is dispersed, but remnants of damage, including graffiti with offensive slogans and property destruction, remain visible.
• 3:00 AM: Israeli planes arrive in Amsterdam, and fans implicated in the night’s disturbances begin boarding, some reluctantly, as footage of the incidents begins circulating widely online.

Morning, November 8, 2024: As investigations begin, a clearer picture of the night’s offenses emerges, with UEFA and local media highlighting the racist and aggressive behavior of Maccabi fans as a central aspect of the disturbances. The Dutch government and football authorities express their condemnation of the behavior, leading to calls for tighter security measures and potential sanctions for the involved parties.

These details underscore the severity and range of the offenses committed, from discriminatory chants and verbal abuse to physical confrontations and property damage.