Sunday’s Eredivisie match between Ajax and Groningen was abandoned in the sixth minute after supporters set off fireworks.
The Dutch top-flight match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam kicked off at 8pm local time, but was temporarily suspended after just five minutes when a substantial pyrotechnic display lit up the south stand behind one of the goals, where the Ajax ultras are situated. Supporters were described as “repeatedly” setting off fireworks.
The players were taken off the pitch, before a decision was taken to abandon the game.
Ajax described the incident as “downright scandalous” and “unacceptable”, and promised to identify and sanction the perpetrators.
F-side, Ajax’s ultra group, posted a video of the display on its Instagram story, accompanied with the caption “RIP Tum 5th”, an apparent reference and tribute to an Ajax supporter who died in November.
(Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)
(Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)
Ajax claimed fans in the section responsible for the display had been searched before kick off and dogs had been deployed to detect fireworks. “Despite this, we were unable to prevent this situation,” a club statement read.
Groningen confirmed the remainder of the game will be played without supporters at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Tuesday at 2:30pm, with the match resuming in the sixth minute as opposed to being replayed in its entirety.
Ajax’s statement read: “Ajax finds it downright scandalous what happened in the stadium tonight. We offer our apologies to anyone who has been harmed by this in any way whatsoever. The safety of spectators and players has been put in danger. That is unacceptable. We explicitly distance ourselves from this misconduct. Fireworks do not belong in the stadium.”
The statement concluded: “We will of course study the camera footage to try to identify the perpetrators and, in addition, investigate in other ways who is responsible for this. If that leads to the identification of perpetrators, we will take appropriate measures.”
Groningen players were pictured applauding their fans following the abandonment, and the club thanked them for their support.
It is not the first time an Ajax game has been suspended under such circumstances. In September 2023, Ajax’s home match against rivals Feyenoord was abandoned after their fans repeatedly threw fireworks onto the pitch. Feyenoord were 3-0 up when the game was suspended and then abandoned in the 56th minute. The game resumed three days later for the final 34 minutes without spectators, with Feyenoord securing a 4-0 win.
Ajax are sixth in the Eredivisie, ahead of Groningen in seventh on goal difference.
