AMSTERDAM — Violent clashes broke out in Amsterdam late Wednesday following a heated Europa League football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which ended with a dominant 5-0 victory for Ajax. The unrest led to at least five people being hospitalized and 62 arrests, according to local police.
The violence, which began around midnight after the game, saw fans of both teams engage in numerous brawls and acts of vandalism throughout the city center. Authorities responded quickly, deploying riot police and reinforcements to contain the unrest, while reports of ongoing disturbances, including vandalism and confrontations with police, circulated on social media.
Dutch police were already on high alert ahead of the match, monitoring tensions between rival groups of fans. One such incident involved the tearing down of a Palestinian flag from a building, adding fuel to the already volatile atmosphere. A planned pro-Palestinian demonstration near the stadium, which was expected to take place on the same day, was relocated by Amsterdam city officials due to security concerns.
In response to the escalating violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the deployment of two planes to evacuate Israeli citizens caught up in the clashes. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised its nationals in Amsterdam to remain in their hotels and avoid displaying any Israeli or Jewish symbols in public.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the violence, calling the “anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis” during the disturbances “completely unacceptable.” Israeli officials also expressed concerns over the safety of their citizens, prompting an urgent visit by Israel’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, to Amsterdam.
The violence is expected to have broader implications for European football, as UEFA, the continent’s governing football body, indicated it would review security measures for two upcoming matches. One of these is the Nations League game between France and Israel at the Stade de France next week, which has the potential to further heighten tensions.
In another significant development, UEFA recently announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s scheduled Europa League match against Turkish club Beşiktaş, initially set for Istanbul on November 28, has been relocated for security reasons.
As the situation in Amsterdam continues to unfold, authorities are working to ensure the safety of both fans and citizens in the coming days.
