Klassieker match between Ajax and Feyenoord scheduled for October 30 in De Kuip

The match between Feyenoord and Ajax has been moved to Wednesday, October 30. Both clubs will kick off the catch-up match at 6 p.m. in De Kuip. The professional football competition board, consisting of Marianne van Leeuwen (KNVB), Jan de Jong (Eredivisie CV), and Marc Boele (Keuken Kampioen Divisie), made this decision after consulting with the municipality of Rotterdam.

Feyenoord and Ajax were initially scheduled to meet on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. However, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has banned the first top match of the new Eredivisie season, as a planned police strike for an early retirement scheme makes it impossible for him to guarantee the safety of players and the public around the stadium.

"In search of a new date and looking at the match day calendar of Dutch professional football, this is the first time that is suitable in relation to the other matches of Feyenoord and Ajax and where there is at least two days of complete rest between matches," the KNVB wrote in a press release.

The KNVB had few opportunities to reschedule the meeting between Feyenoord and Ajax in the short term, as both clubs will be in action: Feyenoord on Tuesday or Wednesday in the Champions League and Ajax on Thursday in the Europa League. Ajax will play PSV at home three days after the away match in De Kuip. Feyenoord has a match against AZ on the program on the same day.

Earlier this season, the police campaigned for an improved early retirement during four matches in the Eredivisie, which went ahead. Supporters of the away team are not welcome at matches between Feyenoord and Ajax. Nevertheless, hundreds of police officers are needed to maintain order during the Klassieker. In recent years, the police have had to intervene in Amsterdam and Rotterdam in serious incidents surrounding the charged encounter.

The KNVB, Eredivisie CV, and Keuken Kampioen Divisie stated last week that they find it unfair that football is once again the victim of police actions. "Football is not a party to this, but now these actions focus on football. Football is used as a means, which says a lot about its impact. But of course, that is not what football is meant for," they reported.

Feyenoord and Ajax would also have liked to play their match on Sunday.