Ajax punishes players arrested in cop assault

Ajax is taking measures against the junior team players arrested last Thursday for assaulting a female police officer. Two of the players were subsequently released from custody without charge. The player facing criminal charges was suspended by the club for the rest of the season, according to the Amsterdam football club. The player was issued the largest possible contractual fine and given an official warning. He was ordered to follow an external anger management class, the team said. The other two players are suspended for one month each. They will keep up their training, but separate from the rest of the team. They are also to apologize to the other members of the youth team. Charges of ordinary assault were filed against an 18-year-old player. Forward Zakaria El A., 18, captain Ashraf El M., 18, and 19-year-old striker Samet B., were held by police, according to De Telegraaf. The incident in question happened on Thursday, when the three men allegedly pulled a woman out of her car and assaulted her for honking her horn at them. The victim turned out to be an off-duty police officer. However, charges for assaulting an authority were not applied, since she was dressed in plainclothes and did not identify herself as a police officer.