The Dutch football Association (KNVB) has announced that the abandoned match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord will resume on Wednesday, albeit without spectators in attendance. The decision comes in the wake of a chaotic scene that led to the abandonment of the fixture, as fans disrupted the game and clashed with police outside the stadium.
The Eredivisie clash between Ajax, the home team, and reigning champions Feyenoord had reached a critical point on Sunday, with Feyenoord leading 3-0 in the second half. However, in the 56th minute, the match was initially suspended due to fans hurling flares onto the pitch, and rioting supporters necessitating the use of tear gas by mounted police to restore order.
The remaining minutes of the fixture will now be played behind closed doors, marking an unusual turn of events in Dutch football. Ajax expressed their disagreement with the KNVB’s decision and raised concerns about the rescheduling’s impact on their already crowded fixture list. They even hinted at the possibility of taking legal action.
In an official statement, Ajax stated, “The competition and Dutch Cup program is being adjusted for four clubs by the KNVB to play the remainder of a suspended match,” and further added, “Not only the clubs but also the supporters suffer the consequences of this.”
The KNVB defended their stance, emphasizing the importance of fairness and on-field resolution in football. In their statement, the KNVB declared, “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 quickly as possible.”
As a consequence of the rescheduled Ajax vs. Feyenoord match, the Eredivisie fixture between Ajax and FC Volendam, originally set for Wednesday, will be postponed to a later date.
Ajax has faced a challenging start to the season, with only one victory to their name, leaving them in 14th place out of 18 teams in the league. This marks a significant departure from their third-place finish last season and the first time they failed to qualify for the Champions League in 13 seasons.
