Amsterdam Bans Maccabi Tel Aviv Club

Amsterdam’s city council demands FIFA ban Israel from the 2026 World Cup over Gaza war crimes (image source)

Amsterdam’s City Council has approved a motion declaring Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football club “unwelcome” in the Dutch capital if it is deemed to support occupation or racism. Introduced by Denk party leader Sheher Khan on 23 September, the measure passed with a large majority, sparking debate over sports and political expression in Europe. Councillor Khan argued that foreign clubs should face the same scrutiny as Russia’s teams, which were barred after 2022’s Ukraine invasion. “Nationally, clubs from countries like Russia are already barred from playing in the Netherlands. Yet for Israeli clubs, no such rule exists,” he said, accusing Maccabi Tel Aviv’s hardcore supporters of endorsing genocide amid the war in Gaza.

Amsterdam will now send an official letter to the Dutch Football Association and the Dutch Olympic Committee urging them to exclude any club that contributes to “illegal occupations” or fails to act against extremist chants. Only the Christian Democrats, Liberal Party, JA21 and Forum for Democracy opposed the motion, warning it could set a precedent for banning clubs beyond Israel.

Across Europe, municipal authorities and fans have intensified calls to isolate Israeli teams over Gaza. In Thessaloniki ahead of Maccabi’s Europa League tie with PAOK, Greek police detained around 120 Israeli supporters behind cordons, while bomb-squad units swept the Toumba Stadium grounds amid small pro-Palestinian protests. Demonstrators unfurled banners reading “Genocide” on buildings near the U.S. consulate and chanted for Israeli clubs’ expulsion from UEFA competitions.

“This motion corrects that inconsistency,” said Khan.

Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, had already indicated Maccabi fans would not be invited back after violent clashes last November, when some supporters tore down a Palestinian flag and hurled racist slurs. TRT World reported that the council’s decision extends beyond one club, targeting any foreign team “established in illegal settlements or indirectly supporting unlawful occupations.”

Legal experts caution the motion may collide with UEFA’s statutes, which prohibit political discrimination in sports. “UEFA requires all members to admit clubs regardless of national politics,” noted Frank Van Damme, a Rotterdam-based sports lawyer. “Enforcing this ban could trigger legal challenges and set off tensions between city authorities and the Dutch Football Association.”

European cities have repeatedly demanded sporting sanctions against Israel since October 2023, following reports of over 65,000 Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza. While Israel offers to offload aid at Ashkelon Marina or Cyprus, activists insist on direct delivery to Gaza’s ports—forcing encounters between sports diplomacy and wartime politics.

The Dutch Olympic Committee and KNVB must respond to Amsterdam’s letter by early October. UEFA is also reviewing Maccabi Tel Aviv for a possible competition suspension. Observers will watch whether other European municipalities follow suit or if national federations rebuff political interference in sport.