THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday indicted five men on charges of assault that erupted around a UEFA Europa League soccer match between Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. sentenced to up to six months in prison.
WATCH: Police investigating cause of violence involving Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam
The riot sparked an international outcry and accusations of a deliberate anti-Semitic attack, leaving five people hospitalized and 20 with minor injuries. More than 60 people were detained.
A court on Tuesday sentenced one man to six months in prison, the other to two and a half years, and two to one month in prison. The fifth defendant received 100 hours of community service.
A series of violent incidents occurred between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soccer fans before and after the soccer match.
Some of the violence was condemned as anti-Semitic, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered refuge to Maccabi supporters. The violence was widely reported around the world and tarnished Amsterdam’s reputation as a beacon of tolerance and a haven for persecuted religions, including Jews.
“The violence appears to have stemmed from strong pro-Palestinian sentiments, dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger toward the Israeli population,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement at the end of the hearing two weeks ago.
The five defendants, all residents of the Netherlands and aged between 19 and 32, were charged with public assault, theft and assault.
The Nov. 8 match was allowed to go ahead after the Dutch counterterrorism watchdog determined there was no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans and the match was not considered high risk. Still, Amsterdam authorities banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
According to the investigation, authorities reported several incidents the day before the match, including Israeli fans tearing down Palestinian flags from buildings in Amsterdam and attacking taxis.
Six more suspects, including three minors, are scheduled to stand trial at a later date. Under Dutch rules, juvenile hearings are held behind closed doors. Police are continuing to investigate the assault and have released images of several suspects they wish to identify.
Cassart reported from Brussels.
