Angry Ajax fans block way of player bus after loss against PSV
Angry Ajax supporters stopped the players bus at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Sunday evening, after the football team returned from a humiliating loss against PSV in Eindhoven. PSV won the match 3-0, thereby securing the league title for the 24th time in the Eindhoven team's history, NOS reports.
The bus carrying the Amsterdam footballers arrived at the Johan Cruijff Arena around 8:30 p.m., where angry fans had been waiting for some time. Witnesses described the atmosphere as threatening and police officers were on site, according to NOS.
Amsterdam broadcaster AT5 reports that aggressive fans kicked and hit the bus, until director Edwin van der Sar got off to speak with them. The fans demand that Van der Sar resigns, because they hold him responsible for Ajax's disappointing season. Trainer Erik ten Hag also left the bus to support Van der Sar in his discussion with the fans.
Van der Sar spoke to the group of around 150 upset supporters until around 10:15 p.m., after which the fans let the bus continue to the Arena's parking deck so that the players could get off.
In addition to the loss against PSV, and thereby falling out of the running for the league title, Ajax was also eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League and the Europa League. Halfway through the season, directors Van der Sar and Mark Overmans fired coach Marcel Keizer. But the team did not improve under new coach Ten Hag.
This is the fourth year in a row that Ajax closes the season without a prize.
Honderden ziedende Ajax-fans versperren weg van spelersbus https://t.co/UuVv3Jstra pic.twitter.com/WqbBrFeMzj
— AT5 (@AT5) April 15, 2018
Supporters zeggen tegen Van der Sar dat hij nu zijn conclusie moet trekken en vanavond nog moet opstappen. De directeur zegt dat dat niet zomaar kan. #ajax pic.twitter.com/VgexQLjTzF
— Jarno Grob (@JarnoGrob) April 15, 2018
Van der Sar en Jeroen Slop druipen af. De spelersbus is naar binnen. De bijeenkomst is voorbij. #ajax pic.twitter.com/JnrFpbWkex
— Jarno Grob (@JarnoGrob) April 15, 2018