SHOWS of support for Palestine have been seen across Uefa competitions this week, as fans at various clubs have organised large displays of solidarity.
It has demonstrated that fan movements can still have an important voice despite some clubs, leagues, and confederations attempting to silence them.
A huge “free Palestine” banner was draped across the stands at the Parc des Princes where Paris Saint-Germain faced Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Below the banner was a call for peace which read: “War on the pitch but peace in the world.”
As reported in today’s Morning Star, France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described it as “unacceptable,” adding that “Uefa rules forbid political messages, and it is a political message.”
It is sad that messages advocating peace are now deemed unacceptable.
During the Europa League game between Galatasaray and Spurs in Istanbul, Galatasaray fans kept a “free Palestine” banner in view for much of the game. The TV cameras could not avoid it no matter how much they were obviously trying to.
The biggest political flashpoint of this week’s European games came in Amsterdam where Ajax supporters and residents had shown support for Palestine ahead of the visit of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.
It led to tension and inevitably violent clashes after Maccabi fans made anti-Palestine and Islamophobic chants including “let the IDF win,” and tore down Palestine flags on display in the city.
It follows similar conduct from Maccabi fans in Athens ahead of a game against Olympiakos in March.
“They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started,” Amsterdam city councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera today.
“As a reaction, Amsterdammers mobilised themselves and countered the attacks that started on Wednesday by the Maccabi hooligans.
“The mayor says the police did act, but I would say they acted at the wrong moments.
“They only intervened to protect the Maccabi hooligans when Amsterdammers stood up to defend their homes.”
A statement from the authorities in Amsterdam said some attacks on visiting Maccabi fans were targeted and anti-semitic.
“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way,” said the statement from the police and prosecution office.
“There is no excuse for the anti-semitic behaviour exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.”
Some of the framing of this incident in Amsterdam has echoed much of the reporting on Israel’s actions in the Middle East.
