Ajax’s Eredivisie fixture against Groningen at the Johan Cruyff Arena was cancelled after fans set off fireworks and smoke bombs behind the goal.
Referee Bas Nijhuis escorted the players off the field just five minutes into the game, and when attempts were made to resume play, similar disturbances forced the match to be officially abandoned.
On Sunday, Ajax announced that the match will take place behind closed doors on Tuesday, December 2.
Ajax tweeted, “The match against FC Groningen will resume on Tuesday at 14:30. The game was abandoned on Sunday night with a score of 0-0 after numerous fireworks.”
Following the events, the club released a statement denouncing the incident.
“Ajax finds the occurrences at the stadium tonight completely unacceptable,” the tweet read. “We apologize to anyone affected by this situation—the safety of fans and players is paramount. This behavior is intolerable. Fireworks have no business in stadiums.”
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“Attendees in that section of the stadium were searched, and dogs were also utilized to locate fireworks both inside the stadium and during spectator entry. Despite these preventive measures, we were unable to avert the situation.”
“We will review the video footage and utilize other tactics to identify the individuals involved. Should we successfully identify those responsible, appropriate action will be taken.”
Information from PA contributed to this report.
Fan Take: This incident highlights a growing concern over safety in soccer stadiums, a crucial issue for fans eager to support their teams without fear. Such episodes not only tarnish the sport’s image but could also lead to stricter regulations, affecting the overall fan experience.
