![\"Jurgen](\"http:\/\/www.paleisamsterdam.nl\/uploads\/media_items\/jurgen-habermas.603.400.s.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTheres been a lot of talk , and a lot of conjecture over what actually happened in the square when the Dutch undercover police decided to wade into the Celtic support that had been enjoying a pre match meet in the capital.<\/p>\n
Despite there being eight webcams , and all the resultant footage available, no clear picture of events has emerged. Certainly no chronological record. Mainly because no-one has looked for it.<\/p>\n
There is footage of supporters attacking police, and police attacking supporters. Each side blames the other, and each side has made their own case to support their own actions.<\/p>\n
A Dutch court has decided that five Celtic supporters were guilty of violence in a public place. The supporting video evidence led to the conviction. In court, the evidence was strong enough to convict. Any appeal will have to be based around new evidence. ( See previous article, Amsterdam, what should we do next ? )<\/p>\n
No-one in the press has tried to look into the reasons for what happened. No-one in the press has demanded answers for the police over reaction. We are only going to deal with facts here. It was an over reaction. There was no reason to expect any trouble from the large Celtic support in Amsterdam. They cannot be said to have “previous ”<\/p>\n
There was no reason for the massive uniformed police presence, unless they were expecting trouble from locals. They do have previous, as demonstrated in Glasgow in the first game a couple of weeks before.<\/p>\n
However, the police were there, highly visible, and in a state of high readiness. Local fans would have known this.<\/p>\n
There was also a large number of plain clothes police, mingling with the fans. As yet, no-one has offered a feasible \u00a0explanation for this. Crowd control is about controlling a crowd with positive action, whilst making it clear to the crowd that there is sufficient strength to deal with any problems that may arise, thus providing both a deterrent and a re-assurance.<\/p>\n
If there was a threat from Ajax supporters, the visible police presence would have been a sufficient deterrent.<\/p>\n
If there was a threat from visiting fans, including those of the other clubs in Amsterdam that day, again, the visible police presence should have been enough to prevent trouble.<\/p>\n
Celtics support is , by and large, self policing. The majority of those in Amsterdam would have been experienced European travellers, and those who weren’t would have been kept in check by fellow fans. That is what usually happens, and normally does not lead to any problems.<\/p>\n
However, something must have started it. These things don’t just happen, and the mood in the square during the day wasn’t tense enough, according to eye witnesses, to give a sense that something was inevitably going to happen.<\/p>\n
The Celtic support was there to enjoy themselves, but the priority was to see the game.<\/p>\n
At around six o’clock, they would have began to make their way to either the ground, or a suitable hostelry to watch the game. It simply does not follow that they would have to be forced to do so.<\/p>\n
We know that some Ajax supporters stole a flag. We know that some Celtic supporters chased them to get the flag back. We know that the police then moved in and attacked and detained dozens of Celtic fans.<\/p>\n
Were the police waiting for an opportunity to clear the square ?<\/p>\n
Was this the excuse they needed ?<\/p>\n
We know the \u00a0order went out from the mayor of Amsterdam to clear the square. Which would have cleared anyway as kick off time approached. So why the hurry ?<\/p>\n
Even if the police had decided the flashpoint was serious enough to warrant a closure of the area to the public, then it still doesn’t make sense to do it in the way they did it. again, footage of this is widely available.<\/p>\n
So, why did they do it in the way they did ?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On 6 November 2013, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander awarded the Erasmus Prize 2013 to the German scholar J\u00fcrgen Habermas (1929) at the Royal Palace Amsterdam.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The annual Erasmus Prize is intended for persons or institutions that have made an exceptional contribution to culture in Europe. The Prize is awarded for acknowledged achievements and is not intended as a stimulant to young talent. The cash amount of the Prize is fixed at 150,000 Euro. The Prize will be presented by H.M. the King, the Patron of the Foundation, during a ceremony that usually takes place in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n
The theme of the Erasmus Prize this year is \u2018the future of democracy\u2019. For over 50 years, J\u00fcrgen Habermas has been one of the leading thinkers in the fields of sociology, philosophy and politics. Central in his thinking is democracy and the commitment of the citizens. He is sharp and critical in his political analysis, but at the same time optimistic about the future of a democratic Europe. He beliefs in the debate, in ratio as the source of politics and in the equality of man. With his humanistic views and commitment to the future of Europe he embodies the Erasmian values the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation holds so dear.<\/p>\n
The Royal Amsterdam palace had a very important person in there that day, the King. The full guest list \u00a0for this ceremony is a little harder to find, but there may have been other important people there as well. In fact, given the nature of these events, its certain there would have been.<\/p>\n
This is the palace, viewed from Dam Square;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, there were very important people on one side, and a bunch of Celtic fans on the other. Those very important people would have had to go home at some point…<\/p>\n
If this was in London, or Edinburgh, and VIPs were in close proximity to football fans-okay, lets consider they would have been drinking, drunk football fans were across the road, then the police would have moved them.<\/p>\n
Actually, thats not true, the police would have not allowed the situation in the first place.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands has a reputation for liberalism. Perhaps they felt that they could easily control the situation. The plain clothes police may not have been there for the football support after all. The royal family were across the road. these sort of people follow royals around no matter what the country.<\/p>\n
The Ajax fans who nicked a flag and got chased may have inadvertently caused the massive overeaction that took place.<\/p>\n
The police, it seems, panicked and moved in to clear the crowd before the King went home for his tea.<\/p>\n
Someone, somewhere, has made an arse of it.<\/p>\n
And five Celtic fans are the scapegoats.<\/p>\n
We need the press in this country to dig a wee bit deeper. And to find the truth. Because it is out there. Already the press in Beguim and the Netherlands are asking questions…its what they do in liberal countries.<\/p>\n
Watch this clip from you tube, which may well be the confirmation we need. Two ladies discuss the “war ” going on in the square.<\/p>\n