Fearing new wave of unrest, Amsterdam bans Lazio fans

Amsterdam placed a ban Tuesday on Lazio fans planning to travel to the Dutch capital for a Europa League game next month, saying the risk of public disorder was too big.

The decision by Amsterdam’s mayor, police chief and chief prosecutor comes nearly three weeks after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were assaulted in various parts of the city in hit-and-run attacks—an incident that has left the traditionally tolerant city reeling and on the edge.

“Lazio supporters are not welcome in Amsterdam,” for the December 12 game, city officials said in a statement.

“The risk of (criminal) right-wing extremist, anti-Semitic, racist expressions and public disorder is too great,” the statement said.

Both UEFA and Dutch police have identified the clash, to be played at the Johan Cruyff Arena as “high risk”.

“Some of SS Lazio’s supporters are known for their right-wing extremist and fascist sympathies and anti-Semitic and racist expressions,” the city added.

“Examples of this include giving the Hitler salute, displaying swastikas and abusing the image of Anne Frank,” it said.

There was “no place in Amsterdam for expressions of racism and fascism,” the city said, adding it could lead to a counter-reaction including the serious disruption of public order. 

“The football match takes place during a period of great tension in the city,” it said.

In the early hours of November 8, supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were assaulted in various parts of the city following calls on social media to attack them.

The violence sparked outrage in Israel and among Dutch politicians, who described them as anti-Semitic.

The attacks were the culmination of two days of skirmishes that also saw Maccabi fans chant anti-Arab songs, vandalise a taxi, and pull down Palestinian flag.

In March, German police arrested a suspect after a group of Lazio fans were filmed doing Nazi salutes at Munich’s Hofbraeuhaus beer hall before a Champions League clash with Bayern.

Fans of the notoriously right-wing club from Rome were captured making the gesture and chanting “Duce”, a name for Italy’s former fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

A section of the Lazio ultras, known as the Irriducibili, have previously faced punishment for making far-right gestures.

Two sectors of Lazio’s Stadio Olimpico were closed for January’s match against Napoli after fans did Nazi salutes and made racist slurs against Roma striker Romelu Lukaku.