(NL Times) The first five men brought to trial for rioting in Amsterdam that targeted Israeli and Jewish football fans were found guilty on various charges related to the violence. The District Court in Amsterdam handed out sentences of up to six months in prison when the verdict was read on Tuesday morning, far lower than prosecutors recommended during their rapid trials earlier this month. In the Netherlands, both prosecutors and defendants have up to 14 days to decide whether to appeal a criminal verdict and sentence.
The rioting began after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7, and continued into the early morning hours the following day. Anti-Semitic slurs and broad calls to violence were shared on various social media channels in the run-up to the match, following various incidents involving some Maccabi hooligans in the capital earlier in the week.
