Law enforcement actions hinder elite soccer game in the Netherlands
The highly anticipated football showdown between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam, known as one of Europe's biggest football rivalries, has been called off due to a police strike. The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, reported that the police strike makes it impossible to provide adequate security for the game, taking place at the De Kuip stadium, hence the cancellation. Originally scheduled for 2:30 PM this upcoming Sunday, the match was poised to be a grand spectacle.
The police force announced the strike as a means to push for a more suitable regulation of early retirement, with no representation from politics hinting at a resolution to this issue.
The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) voiced its disapproval, criticizing the police for utilizing football as "a tool." KNVB believes that such a move goes against the true essence of the sport. Regrettable as it may be, the association holds out hope that the police union and the government will reach a compromise before the scheduled date.
Visitors from the opposing team are barred
In a statement to AFP, Ahmed Aboutaleb explained the reason for the ban on visiting supporters: the insufficient guarantee of safety due to the absence of police, with an average of 400 officers, including water cannon units, drones, and helicopters, typically deployed for such high-risk matches.
The rivalry between Ajax and Feyenoord has spanned decades, resulting in numerous conflicts between their fan groups. Consequently, away fans have been forbidden from attending their games, although this does not always guarantee a peaceful outcome. Incidents, such as tossing fireworks onto the pitch and causing riots, have happened in the past – such as during the 2020/21 Ajax and Feyenoord game in Amsterdam.
Recent history holds records of cancelled games due to police strikes, with reports of cancelled matches like the Ajax and PSV Eindhoven game in 2008, where police unions fought for an improvement in collective agreements.
The police strike has led to a ban on visitors from the opposing team due to insufficient safety guarantees. Despite the absence of police, the rivalry between Ajax and Feyenoord fan groups often leads to tense situations, as evidenced by past incidents such as tossing fireworks onto the pitch and causing riots.
