Amsterdam says Lazio fans are not welcome at the next home Europa League game for Ajax

City of Amsterdam is still upset about the violence between Israeli soccer fans and pro-Palestinian protesters. On Tuesday, the city said that traveling fans would not be allowed at Ajax Amsterdam’s Europa League home game against Lazio on December 12.

“People who cheer for Lazio Rome are not welcome in Amsterdam…” The city said in a statement, “The risk of extreme-right, antisemitic, and racist speech and disturbances is too high.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked early the next morning, Nov. 8, after their team played Ajax in the Europa League. Police say that five of the dozens of Israeli fans who were attacked and chased needed to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

Some Lazio fans have been fined in the past for being racist or antisemitic. Some of them were not allowed to go to their Europa League game against Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg in September because German police had taken their guns.

A fan from Italy was stopped in Munich in March for giving the Hitler salute before a Lazio game against Bayern Munich.

“Some supporters of Lazio are known for their extreme right and fascist sympathies as well as for their antisemitic and racist expressions,” a city official said.

“On Nov 7 & 8, Amsterdam was spooked by the fierce violent incidents surrounding the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer game (…) There’s no room for expressions of racism and fascism in Amsterdam.”

Reuters tried to get Lazio to speak on the decision, but they have not yet responded.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published.