The Cup semi-final meeting was interrupted several times due to the behavior of the home fans, with Davy Klaassen being hit in the head with a lighter.
The Dutch government has called Wednesday’s incidents at the Feyenoord-Ajax Cup football match “scandalous” and “intolerable”, while the local federation has vowed to step up its fight against violence in stadiums.
The semi-final meeting in Rotterdam, which ended with a 2-1 triumph for Ajax, was interrupted several times due to the behavior of the home fans, with Davy Klaassen, Dutch international and Ajax midfielder, being hit in the head with a lighter, leaving the 30-year-old to bleed.
“What happened is totally scandalous and intolerable”, said the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rute, after the government members responsible for justice and sport announced an investigation into the incidents and new measures to combat violence in stadiums.
According to local police, 22 people have been arrested in connection with the disturbances at Feyenoord’s stadium, De Kuip, better known as ‘the bathtub’, and the club has announced the temporary closure of the stand where the incidents took place.
“From now on, if a player or referee is hit by an object from the public, the referee immediately cancels the match. We are fed up with this behavior. There is no place for violence,” announced the Dutch FA.
The start of the Feyenoord-Ajax match had already been delayed by a few minutes due to smoke pots and pyrotechnic material being thrown onto the pitch.
