The city of Amsterdam announced that no traveling fans will be permitted at Ajax Amsterdam’s Europa League home game against Italian club Lazio.
“Supporters of Lazio Rome are not welcome in Amsterdam… The risk of extreme-right, antisemitic, racist expressions and disturbances is too high,” the municipality said in a statement.
The Dutch capital’s decision follows the violent November 8 attacks on fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv following a Europa League match against Ajax. Dozens of Israeli fans were assaulted, with five requiring hospitalization for their injuries.
“Some supporters of Lazio are known for their extreme right and fascist sympathies as well as for their antisemitic and racist expressions,” the city of Amsterdam said.
“On Nov. 7 and 8, Amsterdam was spooked by the fierce violent incidents surrounding the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer game (…) There’s no room for expressions of racism and fascism in Amsterdam,” the statement added.
Lazio has a history of incidents involving fan misconduct. The club has faced fines for racist and antisemitic behavior by some of its supporters.
