Melhem Asad, a Druze-Israeli and fan of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team, saved Jewish fans from a pogrom in Amsterdam by speaking in Arabic to confuse the attackers. The violence began after a game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and AFC Ajax when security for the Israelis ended. Asad noticed people speaking Arabic and inciting violence against those wearing Maccabi shirts and Israeli symbols. He used his language skills to help his friends hide their shirts and avoid speaking Hebrew. Despite his efforts, he was unable to help everyone and feared for his own safety.