Soccer-Dutch 'Klassieker' called off because of planned police strike

AFC Ajax NV

28/08/2024 09:03

AMSTERDAM, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Sunday’s Dutch league
clash between archrivals Feyenoord Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam
has been forbidden by the Rotterdam municipality because of a
planned strike by police.
    Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said the decision had been taken on
Tuesday after police said they would not work at the
high-profile game, known in the Netherlands as the "Klassieker".
    "The safety of the players, but also of the public, cannot
be sufficiently guaranteed without the use of the police," he
said.
    The police union announced on Tuesday it would have no
members at the stadium as part of a campaign to force an
agreement with the government on early retirement regulations. 
    Usually, only home fans are allowed into the De Kuip stadium
in Rotterdam for the clash with Ajax supporters, a measure in
place for several seasons after crowd violence.
    Even with only home supporters, last September’s clash
between the two clubs in Rotterdam was halted when fireworks
were thrown onto the pitch. When the game was subsequently
abandoned, rioting broke out in which 15 people were arrested
and two police officers wounded.
    The Dutch football association (KNVB) is warning there could
be fixture chaos if police use football as a forum to make their
case on labour issues.
    "Football is now being used as a means and that says a lot
about the impact of football. But of course that is not what
football is meant for," the KNVB said in a statement.
    “Football has been used more often by the police unions to
campaign over the years. If the current actions by the unions
continue, matches will have to be rescheduled later, the number
of available dates for this is very limited.”
    Both clubs also expressed their disappointment.
    Dutch police have been campaigning for better early
retirement conditions since May, by issuing fewer fines, closing
police stations to the public and organising noisy protests with
their sirens.

 (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Sharon
Singleton)
 ((mark.gleeson@thomsonreuters.com; +27828257807; Reuters
Messaging: mark.gleeson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))