Ajax threaten Dutch FA with legal action after they are given new date to finish abandoned Feyenoord clash
AJAX are threatening the Dutch FA with legal action after being given a new date to complete their abandoned clash.
The Eredivisie match with Feyenoord was cancelled on Sunday afternoon as it descended into chaos.
The referee called off Ajax’s home clash with Feyenoord due to fans throwing flares on the pitchRex
GettyFans were furious to see their side losing 3-0 to their bitter rivals[/caption]
Fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena threw flares on to the pitch, prompting the showdown to be initially suspended with Feyenood leading 3-0 after 55 minutes.
But officials called it off when they deemed it would be too unsafe to continue.
Some supporters vandalised the stadium on the way out while others tried to gain re-entry.
And outside, fans also clashed with riot police who used horses and tear gas to restore order.
The shocking scenes came as Ajax fans’ frustrations boiled over amid their woeful start to the season, which sees the giants way down in 14th in the table with one win from five matches.
Technical director Sven Mislintat – who was at Arsenal from 2017 to 2019 – was sacked just hours after the crowd trouble in Amsterdam, plunging the club that finished third last season into further uncertainty.
But now the 36-time league champions have hit out at the Dutch FA – the KNVB – who have demanded the remaining 35 minutes plus injury time are played this week behind closed doors.
An Ajax statement said: “The KNVB wants the remainder of the Classic, which was cancelled on Sunday September 24, to be caught up without an audience on Wednesday September 27 at 2pm.
“The home game with FC Volendam on Wednesday evening would then be moved. Ajax does not agree to this.
“Ajax disapproves of the misconduct that led to the suspension of De Klassieker. Many football fans were victims of this.
“Due to national and international matches, the earliest possible time to play Ajax vs Feyenoord from Ajax’s point of view is the first week of November.
“Then a cup round is played in which Ajax and Feyenoord do not participate. FC Volendam does.
“The competition and cup programme is now being adjusted by the KNVB for four clubs due to the completion of an abandoned match.
“Not only the clubs, but also the supporters are victims of this. That is why Ajax is considering legal action.”
‘FAIR AS POSSIBLE’
However, their protests could come to nothing with the KNVB confirming the remainder of the match will be played inside an empty stadium on Wednesday afternoon with the FC Volendam match formally postponed.
The KNVB insist the Feyenoord clash needs to be finished as soon as possible for the integrity of the league.
Their own statement added: “On Sunday, Ajax vs Feyenoord was finally stopped after 55 minutes because fireworks were thrown on to the field twice from the stands.
“After an abandoned match, the professional football competition board determines what happens to the match.
“The basic principle is that the competition must be as fair as possible and that a match should therefore preferably be decided on the field.
“The match must then be resumed as soon as possible.
“The time has been determined in consultation with the municipality of Amsterdam.
“This means that the Ajax vs FC Volendam match, which was scheduled for Wednesday September 27, will be postponed to a later time.”
EPAThe remainder of the match will be played behind closed doors on Wednesday[/caption]
ReutersThis entrance to the Johan Cruyff Arena was destroyed[/caption]
EPARiot police on horses tried to restore order outside the ground[/caption]
EPAPolice used tear gas as the trouble continued after the abandonment[/caption]
