Court Sentences Four for Amsterdam Football Fan Violence

Fri Jul 18 2025 07:24:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Court Sentences Four for Amsterdam Football Fan Violence

Short jail terms imposed for assault during riots linked to Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv match.


Four individuals have received prison sentences from an Amsterdam court for their involvement in violent attacks against football fans, underscoring rising societal tensions exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical issues.



Four individuals were convicted and sentenced to short jail terms by Amsterdam's district court following a tumultuous riot involving football fans during a Europa League match between Ajax and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier this month. The disturbances, described as "hit-and-run" attacks, erupted in the early hours of November 8, and led to international criticisms.

Sefa Ö, aged 32, received the most substantial sentence of six months for his leading role in the violence, which included kicking a victim into the path of an oncoming tram. Two other men received varying sentences of ten weeks and one month, respectively, while a fifth, a 19-year-old, was assigned community service under juvenile law. The group was the first to be sentenced in relation to these violent events that had unfolded over two days in the Dutch capital.

The court emphasized the severity of the actions taken by the defendants, which were captured on extensive video footage. The evidence detailed assaults on Maccabi fans, the vandalism of vehicles, and offensive behavior, including the pulling down of Palestinian flags and chanting derogatory slogans against Arabs. The presiding judge noted that there was a growing unrest in the Netherlands due to the conflict in Gaza, but maintained that such violence against Israeli fans was unjustifiable.

The court's proceedings revealed disturbing details about the motivations and actions of the defendants. Rachid O, 26, was implicated through his participation in a WhatsApp group known as Buurthuis2, where derogatory comments about Jewish people were shared and plans for approaching victims were discussed. Another defendant, Umutcan A, acknowledged physically assaulting victims during the chaos while denying any animosity towards Jewish individuals, despite evidence showing him discussing a "Jew hunt" in messaging groups.

Karanveer S., also 26, had prior convictions for assault, which did little to deter his participation in the recent violence. Lucas D, the youngest at 19, assaulted a police officer during the incidents and was found with a dangerous firework at the time of his arrest.

The chief prosecutor, René de Beukelaer, indicated that while antisemitism was a recurring theme in the messaging group discussions, he did not classify the attacks as acts of terrorism, citing that the intent was not to instill fear in the broader community. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of fear and concern among Amsterdam's Jewish community has become increasingly evident following these events.

The defendants have two weeks to appeal their sentences, as the impact of violence connected to football and increasing societal tensions continues to unravel across Amsterdam.

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