Four Sentenced in Amsterdam for Violence Against Football Fans
Four Sentenced in Amsterdam for Fueled Violence Against Football Fans
VLN NIEWS/ANP/AFPIn a significant legal development, four perpetrators have received jail sentences following an eruption of violence directed at football fans in Amsterdam during a Europa League clash between Ajax and Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The longest sentence of six months was delivered to Sefa Ö, 32, while another man was sentenced to ten weeks, and two others received a month each. A fifth defendant, being underage, led to a community service order in accordance with Holland’s juvenile justice statutes.
Judicial authorities asserted that the gravity of their actions, coupled with the explosive context of the events, warranted immediate imprisonment.
The clashes unfolded across multiple districts of Amsterdam in early November, prompting widespread international denunciation.
Notably, the convictions mark a pivotal moment as the first formal charges for the wave of hit-and-run attacks that erupted in the early hours of 8 November, following a tumultuous two-day streak of violence.
A wealth of video evidence clearly depicted the Maccabi supporters enduring grievous assaults, while footage captured the disgraceful act of their assailants tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting hostile slogans. The vandalism extended to the taxis in the area.
The presiding judge highlighted that the prevailing unrest in the Netherlands had been exacerbated by the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Yet, while the court took into consideration the larger context, it firmly stated there was “no justification for calling for and using physical violence against Israeli supporters.”
Sefa Ö was found guilty of delivering a malicious karate-style kick to one victim, sending him crashing into the path of an oncoming tram, alongside engaging in multiple assaults.
Eyewitness testimonies and video footage unveiled a disturbing scene as he viciously attacked victims in high-profile locations including Dam Square and Damrak. Prosecutors underscored his prominent role in this wave of violence which had transcended any reasonable connection to football.
Rachid O, 26, received a ten-week sentence, having participated in a WhatsApp group peddling hate, where he disparaged potential victims as “cowardly” Jews he intended to attack whenever feasible.
The court revealed that this group boasted over 900 members, using it actively for orchestrating violence against both Jewish individuals and Maccabi fans.
Umutcan A, 24, was similarly condemned for delivering brutal kicks to a fan on the ground, showcasing a predatory nature that saw him attacking Maccabi supporters and even attempting to snatch a fan’s scarf. Despite his professed absence of hatred towards Jews, his involvement in a messaging group that talked about a “Jew hunt” speaks volumes.
Karanveer S, 26, previously convicted in 2022 for assault, exhibited no deterrence from joining in the recent spate of violence.
The youngest of the group, Lucas D, 19, engaged in violence against a police officer and was tied to a Snapchat group calling for attacks on Maccabi fans.
All five defendants retain a two-week window to lodge appeals against their sentences.
During the arrest, Lucas was discovered in possession of an illegal, high-explosive “cobra” firework, underscoring the further danger posed by these individuals. Prosecutors had indeed argued for a custodial sentence.
Chief prosecutor René de Beukelaer dismissed notions categorizing these attacks as terrorism, asserting that instilling fear was not the group’s explicit intent. However, he did acknowledge troubling instances of antisemitic discourse circulating within their messaging group.
Reflecting on the tension in Amsterdam’s Jewish community, he remarked, “I can well understand that the Jewish community in Amsterdam was left afraid because of this violence, but that’s different from saying that was the goal of the suspects,” emphasizing the complex interaction of sports, politics, and societal tension in today’s climate.
