Ajax condemns violence in Amsterdam city center after match against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Amsterdam football club Ajax issued a statement on Friday condemning the violence that took place in the capital’s city center after their match against Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Israelis and Jews thought to be Maccabi supporters were attacked in the streets of Amsterdam, leading to five people being hospitalized and dozens of arrests. The injured people have since been released from area hospitals.

“After a sporting football match with a good atmosphere in our stadium – for which we thank all parties involved for the good cooperation – we were horrified to learn what happened in the center of Amsterdam last night. We strongly condemn this violence,” Ajax said on X.

UEFA, the European Football Association, has said that they are going to collect all the reports and evidence regarding the incidents. Ajax could be punished by the association if it is proven that the club failed to protect the away supporters.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said on Friday in a press conference that boys who drove around on scooters were behind the attacks. Police received reports claiming that some men were abducted, but they have found no evidence to suggest this actually happened.

The Dutch Football Association, the KNVB, has also issued a statement saying that they were shocked by the events. "We too, were shocked by the images from the city centre of Amsterdam last night. These acts of violence are far removed from the beautiful evening of football in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. As a football community, we condemn violence. We trust that the authorities will catch and punish the perpetrators," the association wrote on social media.

Ajax won the match 5-0 in the UEFA Europa League. Ajax’s remaining home matches this season in European competition are against Italian team SS Lazio and Turkish side Galatasaray. Maccabi Tel Aviv has away matches in Turkey and Norway remaining.