Amsterdam witnessed a tumultuous evening as the police apprehended 147 football supporters surrounding Ajax’s match against AEK Athens on Thursday. The arrests included 140 supporters of the Amsterdam football club, accused of involvement in public violence, particularly the vandalism of a metro car at Weesperplein metro station. The police responded with the deployment of riot police amid clashes.
Before the vandalism incident, law enforcement utilized batons against Ajax supporters allegedly seeking confrontations in the city center, leading to an escalated situation. However, the police affirmed that, apart from these incidents, the overall atmosphere in the city center remained “controllable and orderly,” attributed in part to a substantial police presence.
Fatima Tougha, responsible for maintaining order around the match, condemned the disturbances, deeming them unacceptable for tarnishing the football atmosphere and creating a sense of insecurity among supporters. Tougha expressed concern over such behavior, emphasizing its unacceptability in the context of a sports event.
Amidst the chaos, altercations also unfolded within the Johan Cruijff ArenA as Greek supporters allegedly assaulted three stewards following a dispute involving the use of a laser pointer. A suspect was swiftly arrested post-match, and the injured stewards intend to press charges against the assailants. The police initiated an investigation into the incident, indicating the likelihood of further arrests.
The turmoil extended to Greek supporters, with additional arrests made for offenses including public drunkenness and insulting the police with stickers bearing the print “ACAB” (All Cops Are Bastards).
Mayor Femke Halsema denounced the disturbances, describing them as a stain on an otherwise thrilling football evening enjoyed by Ajax fans. Expressing concern over repeated involvements of hardcore supporters in public disturbances and violence, Halsema affirmed the seriousness with which the mayor’s office, police, and prosecutor view such incidents. Plans are underway to engage with the club and the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) to address and tackle these issues more effectively.
