Proposal to rename Amsterdam ArenA for Johann Cruijff on hold

The Amsterdam ArenA will not be renamed after Johan Cruijff, who passed away two weeks ago, in the near future. The matter first has to be discussed with his family. And Mayor Eberhard van der Laan wants to give the family time to grieve in peace, Het Parool reports. A loud call to change the name of the ArenA to honor the football legend came shortly after Cruijff's death. Both Van der Laan and alderman Eric van der Burg stated they like the idea, but they first want to discuss it with the Cruijff family. The stadium's name can only be changed if the family and all the shareholders - the municipality, Ajax, ABN Amro and KPN to name a few - agree. A petition for the name change was signed by more than 61 thousand people so far. Initiator Tom Janssen agrees that the Cruijff family should be given time before being confronted with this decision. "There have been so many great tributes by both Ajax and FC Barcelona, which also would have had an impact on the family", he said to the newspaper. He will leave the petition be for the time being and decide who to give it to over a few weeks.