Incident at FC Groningen increases concerns over discrimination in Dutch football
Over the last month three incidents of discrimination have taken place in Dutch football raising concerns over the worsening atmosphere at and around football matches in the Netherlands.
On Sunday 14 February shortly after the end of the FC Groningen v Ajax encounter a fan of the home side was arrested for performing a Nazi salute and shouting racist words against an Ajax fan.
"After the match, our colleagues spotted a FC Groningen supporter throwing a Hitler salute and shouting racist slogans against an Ajax supporter,
"During questioning, the man told that he had gotten caught up in the atmosphere between supporters of both clubs, but now, in retrospect, he is extremely sorry about it." said the police.
Fans of the Amsterdam team tend to refer to themselves as “the Jews” and for that reason often targeted with anti-Semitic and racist chants perpetrated by opposing fans.
In a hearing after the arrest the 21-year-old man was fined 525€.
The incident comes after an Ajax fan was caught on camera pretending to lynch Feyenoord goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer on 7 February and the Ajax defender Riechedly Bazoer subjected to monkey chants by a section of Ado Den Haag fans on 17 January.
Last week the Dutch FA (KNVB) director of professional football Bert van Oostveen expressed his concerns over the worsening atmosphere in Dutch football and called on fans to step up their efforts to combat improper behaviour.
Latest News Articles

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.