Truth on the Sidelines: Amsterdam Riots Expose Mainstream Media’s Role in Spreading Misinformation

Acknowledging that Elon Musk is right about something is disheartening, especially when considering his true intentions behind the purported defense of free speech. Musk doesn’t champion free speech in a general sense; rather, he advocates for his own expression and ideological stance.

However, Musk is correct in asserting that social media platforms are essential for uncovering truths that mainstream media sometimes conceals. It is the sobering reality that without platforms like X, the prevailing narrative might portray Israeli supporters as victims rather than recognizing them as aggressors in incidents that occur, such as the events following a football match in Amsterdam.

Elon Musk’s agenda is troubling, deplorable even. His social network has consistently harbored both Nazi and pro-Israeli content, alongside misinformation and disinformation, playing a significant role in shaping political discourse that contributed to Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president. Despite these negative aspects, social media remains one of the few, if not the only, spaces where the public can access firsthand accounts when traditional media chooses to obscure the facts.

As a journalist, I understand the weight of my words. It’s one thing to present information with a particular bias or ideological perspective, which inevitably influences newspapers, articles, or coverage. However, it’s entirely different to deliberately lie, hide facts, selectively present information to support an argument, and fabricate reality – as, for example, does Musk and his supporters on X and other platforms.

Hopefully, Bluesky will be able to surpass X and, so far less toxic, more open, and with better tools to actually control what you see and with whom you interact, become a relevant tool in the future. But that’s not the case yet.

In many cases involving Palestine, media trustworthiness is questionable—not due to superficial issues like clickbait headlines, but because the coverage is deeply ideological. This is evident in the media’s reporting of the riots in Amsterdam. Most news outlets portrayed the events as if innocent football supporters of an Israeli team—or even simply “poor Jews”—were brutally attacked by Arabs, depicting the latter as a violent mob deserving severe repercussions. This narrative not only fuels far-right sentiments but is also a complete fabrication.

As noted by journalist Ishaan Tharoor:

“I’m not sure I’ve seen a bigger gap between Western media coverage of an event and the online social media tracking of it (that significantly preceded news stories) than in the coverage of the unrest/violence in Amsterdam. Well before the apparent incidents of violence that followed the game, my feed was full of videos of Maccabi fans singing racist songs and attacking local people of Arab descent. None of that seems to be reflected in most headlines, which focus on the attacks that followed.”

While violence is never the answer—a stance I agree with—there is a crucial distinction between attacking peaceful football supporters because of disagreements and engaging in self-defense. We are at a historical juncture where self-defense against violent genocide-mongers disguised as football fans—including at least one IDF soldier and Mossad agent—is mischaracterized as antisemitism and pogrom, with the media not only hiding the facts but also fabricating a misleading narrative.

It took a few days, but Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam, recognized that there was no ‘pogrom’ in the streets of the city and that the information circulating via social networks was the truth—not media manipulation and pressure from the Israeli government and its false version of the facts. Meanwhile, Israelis also attacked French supporters inside Stade de France, near Paris, during a League of Nations match, showing once again the violent character of football hooligans.

Ironically, those who use “self-defense” to justify genocide and the murder of innocent children in Gaza fail to understand its proper application—when individuals attacked by mobs of Zionist hooligans respond to defend themselves. It is both acceptable and human to have biases and to interpret facts through a specific lens, provided the facts remain intact and are not manipulated to fit a particular perspective. However, the media’s coverage of the Amsterdam riots largely ignored these facts, exacerbating


Comments

One response to “Truth on the Sidelines: Amsterdam Riots Expose Mainstream Media’s Role in Spreading Misinformation”

  1. Zero Charisma Avatar
    Zero Charisma

    Isn’t it charming how the media spins tales faster than a Dutch cyclist on a caffeine high? 🚴‍♂️ Who needs reality when you’ve got a narrative to sell, right? 😂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

The European Parliament’s Public Health Committee has adopted its response to the EU’s cardiovascular health plan, backing prevention, early detection, and action against risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
The report, approved on June 24 by 38 votes to two, with one abstention, responds to the European Commission’s Safe Hearts Plan, unveiled in December 2025. It calls for a coordinated E

Read More

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

The Council of the European Union has tightened Schengen visa procedures for Guinean nationals, citing insufficient cooperation from Conakry on the readmission of its citizens staying irregularly in EU member states. The decision, adopted on 10 July, highlights a broader European debate on using pressure on third-country governments for migration enforcement and its impact on ordinary travelers,

Read More

9 EU Countries Call to Defund Olympics Over Russian Re-entry

9 EU Countries Call to Defund Olympics Over Russian Re-entry

Last week, the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been in place since October 2023, despite Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
“Nothing has changed on the ground. Russia is still waging its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine,” stated Swedish Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed. “EU funding programs and cooperation frameworks cannot

Read More

Establishing a New Standard in Luxury Travel

Establishing a New Standard in Luxury Travel

 leading airline has unveiled its next-generation signature lounge concept that is being introduced and rolled out across its key cities globally this year.
The move is said to mark a milestone in Emirates’ continued investment into elevating customer experience on-ground.
The new design aesthetic has been revealed in the Emirates Lounge in Munich, as well as Frankfurt, with signature lounges in

Read More

Moldova’s EU Path Secures a Business-Minded Nominee

Moldova’s EU Path Secures a Business-Minded Nominee

Maia Sandu selects Vasile Tofan as prime minister as Chisinau seeks stability in reform, public trust, and EU accession
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has appointed businessman and investor Vasile Tofan as the next prime minister, starting a two-week parliamentary approval period during a critical phase for Moldova’s EU aspirations. Announced on Saturday, this decision puts economic recovery, adm

Read More

Burnham Launches Battle Against ‘Cover-Up Culture’

Burnham Launches Battle Against ‘Cover-Up Culture’

With parliament breaking for the summer recess on Thursday, this will probably be Burnham’s sole intervention from the backbenches of the House of Commons.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also known as the Hillsborough law, is named after the 1989 tragedy at the Sheffield stadium where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives in a crush.
The proposed legislation requires public bodies to be tru

Read More

The Day the European Parliament Yielded to Far-Right Pressure, Setting a Concerning Precedent

The Day the European Parliament Yielded to Far-Right Pressure, Setting a Concerning Precedent

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Read More

Noskova Brings Wimbledon Victory to Czech Republic

Noskova Brings Wimbledon Victory to Czech Republic

Linda Noskova’s victory at Wimbledon marks a significant achievement for Czech women’s tennis as she secured her first Grand Slam title by defeating Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech singles final.
Written by Daniel Mercer, Sports Correspondent, The European Times
Although Wimbledon often highlights champions as solitary figures, Noskova’s win represents a triumph f

Read More

Peers told to attend House of Lords more often — or get fired

Peers told to attend House of Lords more often — or get fired

Hereditary peers, who have membership in the UK’s House of Lords by birthright, were removed from parliament earlier this year through legislation introduced by Keir Starmer.
The implementation of this limited change took over 18 months, and Starmer did not secure agreement on additional reforms to reduce the House’s size, which were part of his Labour Party’s election-winning 2024 man

Read More

Business Press Releases Foster Trust and Enhance Google Visibility

Business Press Releases Foster Trust and Enhance Google Visibility

London, July 13 Eurotoday Newspaper –  Business press releases are becoming a key part of corporate communication strategies as companies seek stronger online visibility and greater public trust. Public relations professionals report that businesses publishing timely, factual announcements are more likely to attract media attention while supporting their long-term presence in Google Search and G

Read More