Ajax have criticised the “totally outrageous” firework show which resulted of their Dutch league match towards 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 have been ignited behind one of many objectives.
Makes an attempt to restart the Eredivisie match 45 minutes later have been met with extra fireworks and prompted Nijhuis to formally abandon the sport.
“Ajax considers what occurred within the stadium this night to be totally outrageous,” the Amsterdam membership stated in a press release.
“We provide our apologies to everybody who has been affected in any means. The security 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 might 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 should not there for the match or the soccer. It’s unhappy for individuals who do help their membership, the true supporters,” they stated in a press release.
The Eredivisie stated there might be “a disciplinary investigation” into the “unacceptable occasions surrounding Sunday night’s match”.
Ajax stated supporters within the related a part of the stadium have been searched earlier than entry with sniffer canine additionally deployed.
“We are going to, in fact, overview the digital camera footage to establish 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 applicable measures.”
Followers who’re discovered to have set off fireworks can count on a fantastic of £400 (450 euros) along with a stadium ban for between 18 and 60 months.
It’s not the primary time {that a} match involving Ajax and Groningen has been deserted on this means.
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 towards Feyenoord – De Klassieker – was additionally deserted when fireworks have been thrown on the pitch, the match later resumed behind closed doorways.
