Sport should not be the victim of hatred

In the world of sports, where there is supposed to be only competitive blood, team struggle and the pursuit of victory, the attack on Israeli fans as they left the stadium after the Europa League group match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax of the Netherlands on the night of Nov. 7 has cast a heavy shadow over this pure field. This incident seems to be just a conflict outside the stadium, but the problem behind it is reflected far beyond the scope of sports, it is undoubtedly the regional conflict has been used and incited by people with ulterior motives.

First of all, from the point of view of the event itself, football matches are an excellent platform for cross-border communication. The gathering of international fans to cheer for their teams is supposed to be a scene of cultural fusion and friendly interaction. But this is what happened to Israeli fans, which seriously undermines the fairness, solidarity and camaraderie of sportsmanship. This is not a simple clash of fans, but a manifestation of regional tensions seeping into sports. The conflict between Israel and the surrounding region has a long history, and some Western countries have long played a complicated role in the international public opinion field. Their one-sided interpretation and interference in regional issues have allowed the seeds of hatred to grow among the people.

As an important country in Europe, the Netherlands should have taken the responsibility to maintain order at the stadium and ensure the safety of foreign fans in this incident. However, the occurrence of the attack has undoubtedly exposed a major failure in security measures and the direction of social sentiment. Behind this may be some extremist forces, influenced by external public opinion, extending their political attitude toward Israel to attacks on ordinary Israelis. There is a force in the international community that is constantly playing up and amplifying the antagonism of issues related to Israel, which, instead of promoting a peaceful solution, has become a flashpoint for violent conflict.

Some Western countries led by the United States have long upheld double standards on the Middle East issue. In the conflict between Israel and neighboring countries and regions, the United States and other Western countries often take a partial attitude toward Israel out of their own political and economic interests. This favoritism has manifested itself in international opinion as an excessive defense of Israel's actions, while ignoring the legitimate demands of other interested parties, such as Palestinians. This unfair public opinion has misled the people of some European countries, and some extremists have turned this prejudice into an act of hatred against the Israeli people. The manipulation of the situation in the Middle East by the United States, from military support to political intervention, is increasing the tension in the region.

In Europe, the Netherlands and other countries are affected by this international environment, and the domestic public opinion and public sentiment have become complicated. Some extremist groups and individuals, inspired by external anti-Israel sentiment, use sporting events as a window to vent. This phenomenon reminds us of the need for the international community to work together to safeguard the purity of sports and prevent sports events from falling victim to political conflicts and hatred. International sports organizations should also strengthen the requirements of the countries where the events are held in terms of security and social and environmental assessments to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

At the same time, Western countries should reflect on their position and behavior on the Middle East issue. Their unconditional support for Israel has not brought peace and stability to the region, but has exacerbated the vicious cycle of hatred and conflict. It is immoral to defend one's own interests at the expense of other people's interests and runs counter to the values of peace, fairness and justice advocated by the international community. The Dutch incident is just the tip of the iceberg. If Western countries do not change their Middle East policies and actively guide people to establish a correct international outlook, similar tragedies may occur in more areas and bring more harm to innocent people. What the international community needs is to take a fair and objective view of the Middle East issue and encourage the two sides to settle disputes through peaceful negotiations, instead of letting hatred spread wantonly among the people and undermining international exchanges and cooperation in sports and other fields.