Four men have been handed short prison sentences for their involvement in violent incidents targeting football fans visiting Amsterdam for a Europa League match between Ajax and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Sefa Ö, 32, received the longest sentence of six months, while three other defendants were sentenced to 10 weeks and one month in detention, respectively. A fifth defendant, Lucas D, 19, was given a community service order under juvenile law.
The violence erupted in early November across several areas of Amsterdam, resulting in international condemnation. The defendants are the first to be tried for hit-and-run attacks that occurred in the early hours of November 8, following incidents over two days.
The Amsterdam district court cited significant video evidence showing Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being subjected to extreme violence. Footage also captured incidents of fans pulling down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans, as well as vandalizing taxis.
While the court acknowledged the broader context of unrest in the Netherlands due to the Gaza conflict, it emphasized that there was “no justification for calling for and using physical violence against Israeli supporters.”
Sefa Ö was found to have played a leading role in the violence. He was recorded delivering a karate-style kick to one victim, causing the person to fall against a moving tram. The court reviewed video footage showing Ö attacking victims in key locations such as Dam Square and Damrak.
Rachid O, 26, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for his involvement in a WhatsApp group called Buurthuis2, where he referred to victims as “cowardly Jews” and discussed plans to attack them. The court noted that the group, with over 900 members, was used to coordinate violence against Jewish individuals and Maccabi supporters.
Umutcan A, 24, was found to have participated in multiple attacks, kicking victims and grabbing one by the throat. CCTV footage also showed him stealing a football scarf from one of the victims. Despite discussing a “Jew hunt” in online messages, A denied harboring hatred toward Jews.
Karanveer S, 26, who had a prior assault conviction in 2022, also took part in the attacks, with the court highlighting his continued involvement despite past offenses.
Lucas D, the youngest defendant, was found guilty of using violence against a police officer and participating in a separate Snapchat group calling for violence against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. He was also found to have possessed an illegal, high-explosive “cobra” firework at the time of his arrest.
The five men have two weeks to appeal the sentences. Chief prosecutor René de Beukelaer dismissed claims that the attacks amounted to terrorism, explaining that the group’s intent was not to instill fear. However, he acknowledged the antisemitic language exchanged in the messaging groups, noting the fear it caused within Amsterdam’s Jewish community.
