Uefa's Unfulfilled Promise to Investigate Racism by Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
After Maccabi Tel Aviv fans caused unrest in Amsterdam by tearing down Palestine flags and chanting "fuck the Arabs," Europe's football governing body, UEFA, promised an investigation. However, nearly a year later, just days before a new contentious match, no progress has been seen, reports Simon Childs.
Broken Promises and Rising Concerns
Campaigners accuse football authorities of failing to follow through on their commitment to probe racist actions by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters during last November's incident. This comes as the Israeli team prepares to face Aston Villa on Thursday, a match already charged with political tension.
Political Tensions Around the Match
The local council recently banned Maccabi fans from attending, a decision criticized by culture secretary Lisa Nandy, who said it "chooses exclusion" of Jewish people. However, police risk assessments appear to justify the ban, highlighting safety concerns that UEFA has seemingly overlooked.
FairSquare's Call for Accountability
International non-profit FairSquare, advocating for improved football governance, addressed UEFA last month, accusing it of abandoning its pledge to investigate the racist incidents by Maccabi fans in Amsterdam.
After the violence in Amsterdam, UEFA issued a statement stating it would "examine all official reports, gather available evidence, assess them and evaluate any further appropriate course of action in accordance with its relevant regulatory framework."
Despite this, no evident investigation has been initiated, raising questions about UEFA's dedication to tackling racism in football.
Summary
This situation reveals UEFA's failure to act on clear racist behavior by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, while political and safety concerns surrounding their matches remain unresolved.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?