Amsterdam bans Lazio fans from Ajax match over anti-Semitism, racism concerns

The football match in the UEFA Europa League between Ajax and the Italian club SS Lazio from Rome will be played without away support on December 12. This was announced by the city's leadership which consists of the mayor of Amsterdam, the Public Prosecution Service, and the Chief of Police.

“The supporters of S.S. Lazio from Rome are not welcome in Amsterdam,” the city said in a statement. “The risk of (criminal) right-wing extremist, anti-Semitic, racist statements and public order disturbances is too great.”

The man has been designated “high risk” by the European Football Association UEFA and the Dutch police. A hard core of the club's supporters are known for their right-wing extremist and fascist
sympathies and anti-Semitic and racist expressions, the statement reads.

“Examples of this include giving the Hitler salute, the depiction of swastikas, and abusing the image of Anne Frank. This behavior has a structural character, both during home and away matches,” the city said.

The city’s safety concerns also include incidents involving Lazio in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, where the club’s supporters were caught with punching weapons, like brass knuckles, as well as blunt objects, and dangerous fireworks.

Ajax has been notified about the decision by the city’s leadership. The club was not involved in the decision to ban the Lazio supporters.

“The war in Palestine, Israel, and other countries in the Middle East has led to an increase in sadness, anger, and polarization,” the city’s leadership said while explaining the decision.

“Amsterdam was shocked by incidents of severe violence on November 7 and 8 surrounding the football match of Ajax against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The priority from the leadership is guarding and maintaining the public order, safety, and calm.”

The city is still investigating the incidents before and after the match against the Israeli club, which escalated into violence despite one of the largest deployments of police in Amsterdam in recent history. Police in the capital are also participating in investigations around the use of violence by officers at protests by pro-Palestinian activists on the University of Amsterdam’s grounds in May.