Ajax have criticised the “completely outrageous” firework show which resulted of their Dutch league match in opposition to Groningen being deserted.
Referee Bas Nijhuis took the gamers off the sphere on the Johan Cruyff Area inside 5 minutes of the beginning of the match after fireworks and flares had been ignited behind one of many targets.
Makes an attempt to restart the Eredivisie match 45 minutes later had been met with extra fireworks and prompted Nijhuis to formally abandon the sport.
“Ajax considers what occurred within the stadium this night to be completely outrageous,” the Amsterdam membership stated in a press release.
“We provide our apologies to everybody who has been affected in any method. The protection of spectators and gamers has been put in danger. That’s unacceptable.
“We emphatically distance ourselves from this misconduct. Fireworks don’t belong within the stadium.”
The match will resume on Tuesday at 14:30 CET (13:30 GMT) however will likely be performed behind closed doorways.
The Royal Dutch Soccer Affiliation (KNVB) stated it “absolutely understands” the “disappointment” of the “overwhelming majority of well-meaning Ajax supporters and the travelling FC Groningen supporters”.
“Those that do that aren’t there for the match or the soccer. It’s unhappy for individuals who do assist their membership, the true supporters,” they stated in a press release.
The Eredivisie stated there will likely be “a disciplinary investigation” into the “unacceptable occasions surrounding Sunday night’s match”.
Ajax stated supporters within the related a part of the stadium had been searched earlier than entry with sniffer canines additionally deployed.
“We are going to, after all, overview the digital camera footage to determine the perpetrators and also will examine different methods to find out who’s accountable,” the Ajax assertion added.
“If this results in the identification of offenders, we’ll take acceptable measures.”
Followers who’re discovered to have set off fireworks can count on a wonderful of £400 (450 euros) along with a stadium ban for between 18 and 60 months.
It isn’t the primary time {that a} match involving Ajax and Groningen has been deserted on this method.
Ajax’s Eredivisie match at Groningen in Could 2023 was deserted after simply 9 minutes as a result of followers of the relegated hosts threw fireworks on to the pitch twice.
In September of that yr, Ajax’s match in opposition to Feyenoord – De Klassieker – was additionally deserted when fireworks had been thrown on the pitch, the match later resumed behind closed doorways.
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