September 10 – Ajax Amsterdam have had a second of Eredivisie match called off because of a police strike in the Netherlands.
In a statement, the club wrote that “The home match in the Eredivisie that was scheduled for Sunday against FC Utrecht will not take place. The local authorities decided this on Monday afternoon in response to the announced police strikes. Due to the police action, which revolves around the preservation of early retirement, the Klassieker in Rotterdam was also previously cancelled. It is not known when the home match against FC Utrecht will be rescheduled.
“Ajax and FC Utrecht did everything they could to ensure that the match could still go ahead and are disappointed with the decision.”
The municipality confirmed that Ajax – Utrecht won’t take place saying: “The safety of the players, supporters and public order in the city cannot be guaranteed without the important efforts of the police.”
The city also ruled out a match behind closed doors, stating that “even then, the risk of unrest and unsafe situations is too great and irresponsible to take without possible police deployment.”
It is the second time in a fortnight that Ajax have to contend with the postponement of a match. On September 1, Feyenoord – Ajax was also postponed.
Dutch police are in a dispute with government over early retirement conditions and have been campaigning all summer by issuing fewer fines, closing police stations, organising protests and striking on football match days.
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