Prominent media outlets, including The New York Times, BBC, and Sky News, faced backlash over alleged misrepresentation of violent incidents in Amsterdam this past weekend. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans stage a pro-Israel demonstration ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Nov. 7, 2024. What began as a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax spiraled into widespread unrest across the city, with reports of violence, anti-Arab racism, and anti-Semitic incidents. Critics, however, argue that key media organizations downplayed the aggressive actions of Maccabi fans and skewed the narrative to suggest they were innocent victims of targeted attacks.
Eyewitness accounts and footage captured by Dutch photographer Anette de Graaf revealed Maccabi supporters engaged in violent and racially charged actions, including chanting slogans such as “death to the Arabs,” attacking a local taxi driver, and burning a Palestinian flag. Yet media coverage, according to de Graaf and observers, often omitted or downplayed these details, instead framing Maccabi fans as victims of anti-Semitic attacks.
De Graaf’s footage, widely circulated among major media outlets, became a focal point in the dispute. She alleges that outlets like CNN, the BBC, and The New York Times selectively edited or mischaracterized her video, presenting Maccabi fans as the targets rather than instigators of violence. “They framed my footage as if Maccabi supporters were the victims,” de Graaf stated, expressing frustration at what she sees as a deliberate distortion of the events she documented.
Sky News, one of the initial broadcasters of the footage, reportedly posted then swiftly removed the video detailing the violence, citing editorial concerns. The network later stated the footage did not meet their “standards for balance and impartiality.” However, de Graaf contends that this action further obscured the reality on the ground, mainstream media shifting the narrative of her documentation of Maccabi fans’ violence.
Social media erupted as audiences shared their own critiques of how the events were covered, accusing news organizations of selectively reporting incidents that supported a one-sided narrative. Critics argue that portraying Maccabi fans as victims while glossing over their alleged involvement in violent attacks is a dangerous form of media bias that undermines public trust.
The misrepresented video had spread so fast even to the White House prompting a tweet from U.S. President Joe Biden condemning anti-Semitism in Amsterdam, which also failed to acknowledge the violence by Maccabi fans. Such omissions, feed a broader trend where media and political narratives seem to prioritize certain communities’ suffering over others.
In response to the media backlash, de Graaf has called for an apology and greater accountability from the outlets that used her footage. She stresses the need for objective reporting, especially in sensitive incidents with potential international repercussions. “Journalism should be about truth, not selling a twisted narrative,” de Graaf stated. While only one media organization, a Dutch broadcaster, has apologized, de Graaf continues to press for other outlets, including BBC and Sky News, to acknowledge the impact of their coverage. She argues that honest reporting is essential to maintaining public trust and avoiding further escalation of tensions.
