The mayor of Alkmaar, Anja Schouten, has ordered two demonstrations against Thursday’s Europa League match between AZ and Hapoel Be’er Sheva to be moved away from the stadium because of concerns about potential disorder.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the protests against the participation of Israeli clubs in European competition, which have been organised by pro-Palestinian groups Boycott 4 Palestine and Week 4 Palestine.
The protests were originally due to take place outside the main entrance to the AFAS Stadium, but Schouten ordered the demonstrators to gather near the Kooimeer roundabout, the main road junction leading to the stadium, instead.
“It is not possible to take adequate management measures to prevent disorder and separate fans going to the stadium from demonstrators,” Schouten said.
“This [new] location allows us to facilitate the safe arrival and departure of demonstrators. We also need to prevent confrontations taking place with other groups.”
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In a briefing note to councillors, the mayor said there were indications that supporters of the Israeli club were planning to travel to Alkmaar in spite of the ban.
“There are fears that protesters will come into conflict with each other, with supporters’ groups or with the police, that vandalism could ensue, or that the safety of people attending the match could be endangered,” she wrote.
Schouten came under fire from opposition parties on the city council last week for her decision to ban Israeli supporters from travelling to the match. AZ Alkmaar cancelled ticket sales to visiting fans in the wake of the mayor’s decision.
Amsterdam riots
She said the decision was based on public order concerns rather than “political considerations”, following the riots surrounding a Europa League game between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam two years ago.
Schouten said it was “virtually impossible” to keep groups apart outside the stadium, especially as many visiting fans were expected to stay in Amsterdam for the game.
Alkmaar had originally said Israeli supporters were welcome at the game, but the mayor changed her mind after her counterpart in Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, made an “urgent” appeal not to allow a repeat of the scenes in the capital in 2024.
VVD councillor John van der Rhee accused Schouten of succumbing to a “powerplay” by the mayor of Amsterdam.
