Amsterdam city council moves to bar 'Israeli' sports club Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Amsterdam City Council has approved a motion to declare certain foreign sports clubs, including 'Israel’s' Maccabi Tel Aviv, unwelcome in the city if they are deemed to contribute to “occupation or racism.”

The move comes in the wake of violent clashes between fans in Amsterdam last November and amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The motion was introduced by Sheher Khan, leader of the Denk party on the council, who argued that while countries like Russia are already barred from playing in the Netherlands, no such rule exists for 'Israeli' clubs.

Khan's motion targets clubs "established in illegal settlements, directly or indirectly contributing to the maintenance of unlawful occupations, or systematically failing to act against extremist and racist expressions among their hard core.”

The proposal passed with a large majority, with 42 votes in favor to nine against. The council will now send a formal letter to national sports federations, including the Dutch Football Association, urging them to exclude such clubs from sports events in the Netherlands.

Violence and Controversy

The motion follows violent confrontations that occurred in Amsterdam last November during a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The events included:

• Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were filmed pulling Palestinian flags from buildings, chanting anti-Arab slogans like “death to Arabs,” and vandalizing property.
• Pro-Palestinian groups and others reportedly ambushed and assaulted Israeli fans after the match, with calls for a "Jew hunt" circulating in chat groups.
• The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, had previously indicated that Maccabi supporters would not be invited back to the city.

In his remarks, Khan admitted that while the motion is framed broadly, its primary target is Israeli clubs. He added that the club's "hooligans endorse genocide," a reference to the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Opponents of the motion, including the Liberal Party, called the decision "politicized," warning that the broad wording could affect clubs far beyond Israel.

The debate in Amsterdam is part of a growing trend in Europe where cities and sports federations are facing increased pressure to take a stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Protests have also taken place against Israel’s inclusion in the European Baseball Championship in Rotterdam.

The International Olympic Committee and FIFA have so far not taken action to suspend Israel from international competitions.