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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/Roller95 on 2025-09-22 17:25:19+00:00.
Ten months after the manhunt for Israeli supporters in the capital, the Amsterdam city council debated that night one last time last week. After the debate, a motion was passed that de facto declares Maccabi Tel Aviv undesirable.
On Thursday, the council voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion by Denk faction chairman Sheher Khan. It called for sports clubs to be considered undesirable if they operate in illegal settlements or occupied territory. Or if no action is taken against ‘extremist and racist expressions’ by the hardcore fans.
Only VVD, JA21, FVD and CDA voted against. On behalf of the Amsterdam city council, a letter will be sent this week to sports umbrella organisations KNVB and NOC*NSF with the ‘urgent’ request to exclude these types of clubs from sporting events in the Netherlands.
But which clubs are we talking about exactly? The motion stemmed from a debate on the events of November last year, when Israeli supporters were hunted down in Amsterdam. Local politics sees the Maccabi supporters as the culprits, because a group of them misbehaved in the city. Several parties suggested afterwards that the Israeli club should never have come to Amsterdam.
According to petitioner Khan, Maccabi Tel Aviv is now also undesirable with this motion. The club does not play or train in illegal settlements, but according to Khan, the supporters are known as racist and extremist. “The hard core supports the genocide,” said Khan. “That’s reason enough.”
However, the motion is formulated in general terms, because focusing on Israel is politically sensitive, according to Khan. However, he believes that Israeli clubs, just like Russian clubs, for example, should no longer participate in European football.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is currently participating in the Europa League. This week, UEFA is reportedly looking at a suspension because of the war in Gaza. Israel’s participation in the qualification for the World Cup would also be on the table.
Mayor Femke Halsema announced last June that she would not invite Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters back to the city anytime soon.
The Amsterdam city council also voted in the same debate last week on a motion that called for a major boycott of Israel. It only received support from PvdD, Denk, SP and the splits of Bij1.