The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed that the abandoned encounter between arch rivals, Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam will resume behind closed doors on Wednesday at 12 pm.
The game between the two aforementioned teams will affect Ajax’s match against FC Volendam which was supposed to have also taken place on Wednesday, hence leading to a postponement.
Due to that, Ajax have released a statement claiming that they disagree with the decision to finish their league game against Feyenoord on Wednesday on fixture congestion grounds. The football has also suggested resorting to legal action over the matter.
The 36 times Dutch league champions say the match should be resumed as early as the first week of November.
Meanwhile the KNVB has fixed Volendam to play an away match against Excelsior Maassluis in the first round of the KNVB Cup at the end of October, a matter that the Ajax team has not been in agreement with.
“The competition and cup program is now being adjusted by the KNVB for four clubs due to the completion of an abandoned match. Not only the clubs, but also the supporters are victims of this,” Ajax said.
In a similar stance, Volendam also disagreed with the KNVB’s decision to postpone their game, stating that they will “investigate what the club’s rights are”.
However, a statement by the KNVB said the game had to resume immediately to maintain the integrity of the league.
“The basic principle is that the competition must be as fair as possible and that a match should therefore preferably be decided on the field. The match must then be resumed as soon as possible,” it read.
The game between the two most fierce rivals in the Netherlands is widely known as De Klassieker, and had already been paused twice before it was eventually postponed on Sunday.
The bigger picture
On Sunday 24th September, Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam saw their De Klassieker clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena suspended after supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch during the game.
The game was suspended in the first half as missiles rained down from the stands, making it hard for the game continue.
During first half, Ajax fans got frustrated because they were trailing 3-0 in a meeting with their fiercest rivals when proceedings were brought to a halt, with Santiago Gimenez scoring two goals before Igor Paixao adding one.
The home team supporters took matters into their hands and decided to cause chaos in the stadium.
The game was later decided to continue after a brief delay, but a second suspension was required as flares continued to land on the playing surface.
Amsterdam police said that some of the home supporters tried to break back into the ground.
Players and Staff of Feyenoord had to remain in their dressing room until it was safe for them to leave Amsterdam after the game was hanged with police using tear gas on fans outside the stadium.
Currently, Ajax are a lowly 14th on the league log and failed to join Feyenoord for this season’s UEFA Champions League after finishing third in the 2022/23 season.
Both teams have met 29 times in all competitions and Ajax have won 19 out of them whiles drawing 6 and losing just four of them.
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Story by: Asack Pius | univers.ug.edu.gh
