When Maccabi Tel Aviv traveled to Amsterdam to face Ajax in a Europa League football match last week, few could have predicted the firestorm that would erupt. What began as minor scuffles between fans quickly escalated into a maelstrom of violence, antisemitism, and extremist political tensions that reverberated far beyond the pitch.
A Match Marred by Ugliness
The trouble started brewing the day before kickoff when some of the 3,000 Maccabi supporters who had made the trip were involved in altercations around Amsterdam. According to police reports, visiting fans burned a Palestinian flag, pulled another down from a building, and attacked a Muslim taxi driver’s car while chanting:
“Let the IDF win, we will fuck the Arabs!”
–Witnesses reported
This inflammatory behavior sparked anger in Amsterdam’s sizable Muslim community. Confrontations escalated outside a casino where hundreds of Maccabi fans had gathered, requiring police intervention.
“Jew Hunts” in the Streets
The match itself passed without major incident. But the real ugliness unfolded in the aftermath as gangs on scooters went on what Amsterdam’s mayor described as “antisemitic hit-and-run assaults” against Maccabi supporters. Chat groups coordinating the attacks referred to “Jew hunts.”
Dozens of fans were chased and beaten, with assailants reportedly demanding to see passports to verify Israeli nationality. Five ended up hospitalized. Meanwhile, footage surfaced of some Maccabi hooligans roaming the streets armed with iron bars and belts.
Extremism Rears Its Head
The violence quickly took on a virulently antisemitic character that shocked many. Even U.S. President Joe Biden felt compelled to speak out, calling the attacks “despicable” and saying they “echoed dark moments in history.”
But the incident also shone a light on the increasingly extremist elements within football hooligan culture, particularly surrounding Israeli clubs. The Maccabi ultras known as “Fanatics” have gained a reputation for nationalist, anti-Arab chants and slogans that track with Israel’s rightward political shift.
The politics of the ultras change as the politics of Israel changes. They are organized young men, many of whom have been in the IDF, and what they say reflects where the country is.
–James Montague, author and expert on football hooliganism
Ajax Fandom’s Complex History
For their part, Ajax fans have long had a connection to Amsterdam’s Jewish community, with some even brandishing Israeli flags and Stars of David – a complex dynamic given rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in Dutch society. The club’s hardcore “F-side” contingent has faced criticism for allegedly allowing far-right extremists in their ranks.
Middle East Tensions Take Center Stage
Ultimately, the incident laid bare how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Middle East tensions can violently spill over into European football rivalries. With Israeli teams frequently facing hostile environments when playing abroad, the risk of similar clashes remains high.
As one expert put it, “It is going to be something that follows Israeli teams when they play in Europe for a long time.”
Grappling With the Fallout
In the wake of the violence, difficult questions are being asked. How can football authorities ensure the safety of Israeli fans in Europe? What responsibility do clubs have to root out extremism in their supporter groups? And can the sport ever be disentangled from the region’s deep-seated political and ethnic divisions?
Anyone who was paying attention should have known that a game like this would be a risk. But there are questions over how UEFA handles it.
–Security analyst who requested anonymity
As the shockwaves from the clashes continue to reverberate, one thing is clear: When football hooliganism mixes with the explosive tinder of Middle East politics, the results can be ugly, frightening, and all too real. Addressing the underlying tensions may prove the toughest challenge of all.
