Rotterdam mayor won’t allow Feyenoord-Ajax match on Sunday over police strike

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb decided on Tuesday to forbid the rivalry football match between Feyenoord and Ajax which was set to be played at De Kuip on Sunday. The decision against permitting the match was a response to police unions saying their officers would not be present, the latest move to ramp up pressure on the national government for a permanent early retirement scheme.

The mayor said that there lack of police presence means security in and around the Feyenoord home ground cannot be guaranteed. His decision was made in conjunction with the local leaders at the police and prosecution offices.

“The safety of the players, but also of the public, cannot be sufficiently guaranteed without the deployment of the police. This decision was communicated to the parties involved this afternoon,” the mayor wrote.

Dutch football association KNVB said that the rivalry match, known as the Klassieker, will likely have to be rescheduled for an evening during the week. “This is of course not ideal for the many fans of the Klassieker, but also not for the police and the municipality. The matches are always carefully planned, taking into account the wishes and circumstances of municipalities and authorities,” the KNVB said.

The organization noted that there are limited moments for such a match to be rescheduled. Both Feyenoord and Ajax play in the Eredivisie domestically, but will also take part in the Dutch Cup and European football.

The KNVB also raised concern that such labor actions by the police will potentially lead to other matches of great public interest being played at inopportune moments. The regular football schedule “could really be jeopardized at some point or at least affect the sporting outcome” if the police continue their strikes in this way.

Several hundred police officers are usually brought in for matches between rivalry clubs, but also often for more ordinary matches involving football clubs where a portion of the fanbase runs afoul of the law. When the two teams met early last season, the match was halted after 55 minutes because fireworks were thrown on the field twice.

Police officers were injured when they were attacked by supporters who were forced to leave the stadium due to the match’s suspension. “Considerable violence was aimed at police officers, including throwing rocks and strong fireworks.”

Another 11 people were arrested outside of the Johan Cruijff Arena a few days later when the match was concluded in the empty stadium. Ten of them were wearing balaclavas, and another was arrested for a prior offense.