Attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam: 'We must not ignore anti-Semitic attitudes', Dutch king
Paul Kirby
Post, BBC News
1. Encourage Positive Fan Culture
Promote messages of sportsmanship and respect across fan communities and social media.
2. Educational Campaigns
Implement campaigns that emphasize diversity, unity, and the shared love of the game, educating fans on the impact of intolerance.
3. Inclusive Events
Host multicultural events and fan gatherings to celebrate diversity within soccer communities.
4. Strong Anti-Discrimination Policies
Work with clubs and stadiums to enforce clear policies against discriminatory chants, signs, and behavior.
5. Engage Players and Influencers
Have respected players and influencers promote tolerance and speak out against intolerance.
6. Fan Workshops
Organize workshops for fans to discuss the importance of inclusivity and create awareness of unconscious biases.
7. Zero-Tolerance Enforcement
Ensure strict penalties for discriminatory actions to create a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.
After violent attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, the King of the Netherlands says Jews should feel safe living in his country.
"Our history has taught us how threats become serious," said William Alexander.
He added that his country could not ignore "anti-Semitic attitudes".
There have been several attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and the police had to intervene at several points to protect them.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Sukhoff condemned the "anti-Semitic attacks" while the Israeli military described them as "severe and violent incidents against Israelis".
The mayor and authorities of Amsterdam say that despite the presence of the police, many Israeli fans have been injured in these attacks in different areas of the capital.
Amsterdam police say they have launched an investigation into attacks on Israeli fans and have arrested 62 people.
Supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv traveled to Amsterdam to watch their Europa League match against Ajax.
Ahead of Thursday's match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian protesters clashed in Amsterdam's Dam Square, leading to several arrests by police.
There were also reports that Israeli football fans set off firecrackers and set fire to a Palestinian flag on a nearby road, but unrest escalated after the match.
The police say that it is not clear who participated in the riots, but they told local media that the people involved in the attacks were wearing black clothes.
According to the police, five people injured in these attacks were taken to the hospital for medical assistance and that they are also aware of a 'possible hostage situation', but these reports have not yet been confirmed.
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Sakhof, says that he assured the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the violent incidents that "those responsible will be pursued and action will be taken against them."
Three-quarters of the Jews living in the Netherlands were killed during the Holocaust in World War II.
The King of the Netherlands, referring to this date, said: "Jews must feel safe in the Netherlands at all times and everywhere." We will protect them and will not let them go from here.
How To Promote Tolerance Among Soccer Fans
The head of the Central Jewish Committee in the Netherlands alleged that taxi drivers also played a role in attacks on Israeli soccer fans.
According to Chana Hertzberger, 'They (the attackers) were moving in groups and surrounding their targets. Videos of these attacks and attempts to run taxis over people are circulating.
Israel Airline Al Al says it is operating two "rescue flights" to Amsterdam to bring Israelis back to the country.
Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister had decided to send two army ships to Amsterdam, but this decision was later withdrawn.
A female fan of the Maccabi football club told a Dutch TV channel that the violence against football fans in Amsterdam was "systematic".
Speaking at the airport, a woman named Panina said that the attackers were looking for people wearing yellow clothes. Note that the uniform of Maccabi Football Club is yellow.
Another Israeli fan named Ron says, "We were afraid to even come to the airport."
He said he was planning to come back to Amsterdam in January next year, but now he has "decided not to come back".
Before the match, Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian protesters clashed in Amsterdam's Dam Square.
Some videos of these incidents are also circulating on social media, in one of which a person can be seen lying on the ground and people are torturing him.
Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest party in the Dutch parliament, says the authorities will be held accountable for failing to protect Israeli citizens.
The mayor of Amsterdam, Famke Halsema, tried before the match to move the pro-Palestinian protesters away from the match venue.
But according to local media reports, a large group of these protesters headed towards the stadium, where they were stopped by police.
The Israeli president wrote in a post on X that he believed the Dutch authorities would "not only track down all Israelis and Jews, but also protect and rescue them."
Israeli authorities have requested their citizens in Amsterdam to stay confined to their hotels.
On the other hand, the Israeli media, citing a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has reported that the Israeli authorities lost contact with the three citizens in Amsterdam.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is the oldest football club in Israel
Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and 'extreme' fans
Maccabi Tel Aviv is Israel's oldest and most successful football club, having won the most titles at the domestic level.
This Israeli club is among the few teams that have reached the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League in the past.
As for football clubs around the world, Maccabi Tel Aviv also has fans who support their team to the point of 'extremism'. He has been accused of using vulgar and prejudiced language.
In 2014, Arab-Israeli footballer Mehran Razi, who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club, was hurled racist slurs by a group of supporters of the club, and graffiti against him was also seen on walls in Tel Aviv.
"We don't want Arab players at Maccabi" and "Razi is dead" were allegedly written on the walls.
There have also been accusations that Israeli fans used allegedly racist language during a match against Ajax this week, and that they were silent for those affected by the floods in Spain. had refused.
Related Topics
#the_game #The_Netherlands #Palestine #Israel #Football
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