Investigation Promise by UEFA on Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
After Maccabi Tel Aviv fans rampaged through Amsterdam, tearing down Palestine flags and chanting,
“fuck the Arabs,”UEFA pledged to investigate the incident.
Unfulfilled Commitments
According to campaigners, a year later and just before another contentious match, the investigation has not commenced. The allegations come ahead of a game against Aston Villa.
Political and Safety Concerns
The upcoming match, scheduled for Thursday, turned into a political issue following the local council’s decision to ban Maccabi fans, which culture secretary Lisa Nandy criticized as "excluding" Jewish people. However, this ban was reportedly based on police risk assessments that football authorities failed to properly investigate.
Official Response and Criticism
FairSquare, an international non-profit advocating for governance in football, wrote to UEFA accusing it of abandoning its commitment to investigate racist behavior from last November. The organization’s letter highlighted UEFA's initial statement:
“examine all official reports, gather available evidence, assess them and evaluate any further appropriate course of action in accordance with its relevant regulatory framework.”
Author's Summary
This article exposes UEFA's failure to investigate racist incidents involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans despite its public assurance, amid rising political tensions surrounding football matches.