From Israeli fans attacked in Amsterdam to ‘Free Palestine’ banner in Paris, ‘anti-Israel’ activity in European football

Europe has witnessed plenty of riveting football action this week. Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League had Liverpool hammering Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 and AC Milan pulling off an emphatic 3-1 victory over current title holders Real Madrid at the latter’s home turf.

The Europa League, on the other hand, witnessed Turkish champions Galatasaray end Tottenham Hotspur’s 100 per cent start and Manchester United finally collect a win after a hat-trick of losses. As for the Conference League, Chelsea’s 8-0 thrashing of Noah was among the standout results.

However, it’s not just the high-octane action on the field that has been a talking point in the European continental competitions this week.
Israeli football fans were attacked in Amsterdam, Netherlands while a “Free Palestine” banner was unfurled at a Champions League match in Paris.

Supporters of Israeli club attacked in Netherlands

Anti-Semitic clashes broke out in the Netherlands as fans of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv were attacked after their team’s away Europa League clash against Dutch top-tier club Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena, which the home team ended up winning 5-0.

The clashes broke out after the conclusion of the match and a Dutch police spokesperson told the ANP news agency that as many as 57 arrests had been made in the case.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof denounced the “completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis”.

“I followed with horror the coverage from Amsterdam,” Schoof wrote on X, adding that he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to assure him that “the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted”.

⚠️ Graphic videos ⚠️

Hundreds of fans of the @MaccabiTLVFC soccer team were ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam tonight as they left the stadium following a game against @AFCAjax.

The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media.… pic.twitter.com/R3vRAIKrIG

— Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) November 8, 2024

The pair spoke after Netanyahu ordered rescue planes to the Netherlands to transport the Israeli fans back home.

Netanyahu’s office said he told Schoof that he “views the premeditated anti-Semitic attack against Israeli citizens with utmost seriousness and requested increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands”, his office said.

Dutch media AT5 said the clashes occurred around midnight. Social media platforms were flooded with unverified images purported to be of the violence, but confirmed details of the clashes were few.

‘Free Palestine’ banner unfurled during PSG-Atletico match

Meanwhile, a giant banner that had the words “Free Palestine” written on it was unfurled by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans at Parc des Princes during their Champions League home game against Spanish club Atletico Madrid, which they ended up losing 1-2.

The banner, which covered an entire section of PSG’s home venue, also showed a bloodstained Palestinian flag, a gesticulating man with a keffiyeh scarf covering all his face except his eyes, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and a young boy wrapped in the Lebanese flag.

It was shown as Israel presses military operations against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and the militant Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon and international concern grows over civilian casualties.

Paris Saint-Germain fans just unfurled this giant banner before tonight’s PSG-Atlético Madrid match:
“Free Palestine. War on the field but peace in the world.” pic.twitter.com/gBXDbxYRKj

— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) November 6, 2024

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau however, slammed the home fans for their act, adding that such a banner “had no place” in a football stadium.

“This banner had no place in this stadium,” right-wing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X.

“I ask PSG to explain itself and the clubs to ensure that politics does not come to damage sport, which must always remain a source of unity,” he said.

“If this were to happen again, we will have to consider forbidding banners for clubs that do not enforce the rules,” he added.

Othman Nasrou, the junior minister in charge of the fight against discrimination, has summoned French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo and PSG director Victoriano Melero for talks Friday morning at the interior ministry over the incident, his office said.

“Given the size (of the banner), its installation cannot have escaped the club’s vigilance,” he added in a letter to the pair, seen by AFP.

With AFP inputs