Fire destroys Ajax Supporters Home
31 January: The Amsterdam Fire Department and Dutch
press agency ANP have confirmed that a fire has raged in the
Ajax Supporters Home adjacent to the Amsterdam ArenA last
night. The fire reportedly started around 11:30 PM on
Sunday evening and was under control approximately one hour
later. The 'home' was not destroyed entirely,
but "major damage" to the wooden building was reported.
The cause of the fire is as yet unknown. There were no
casualties.
The official Ajax website, Ajax.nl, confirmed
the fire the next day. The club's general director, Arie
van Eijden, said that he is 'shocked': "This is a blow for our
supporters and for Ajax as a club. The home has proved to
be of great value for the Ajax supporters (...) The home
has now been destroyed and many objects of great emotional
value to our fans have been lost."
The club have contacted their insurance company and are
currently looking into the options for temporary
accommodation for the fans. Photos in the daily
training report on Ajax.nl show the devastation,
whereas the Ajax Foto Side published an eyewitness photo
report of the fire.
Fansites such as Ajax Netwerk and the homepage of the
independent fanzine, Dapp're Strijders published
reports considerably earlier. The editors of both websites
underscore that the cause of the fire is as yet unknown.
The report on Ajax Netwerk reads: "We want to call on the
supporters of the Ajax Netwerk community to keep calm
and not automatically assume arson."
The statement on the Dapp're Strijders website
reads: "Last night there's been a fire at our Supporters Home.
This was reported to the police at about 11:45 PM last. Around
midnight the first Ajacieden arrived on the scene. We have
watched the fire, powerless and upset. The home is still there,
but that's the only positive thing there is to say. The damage
is enormous and almost everything has been lost. The side
nearest to Strandvliet metro station is gone completely. So
far, all claims and hints are groundless. To be continued
(unfortunately)."
UPDATE (02 February 2005): The fire that destroyed
the Ajax Supporters Home was set deliberately. This was
confirmed by the Amsterdam police today, reports local TV
station AT5. The identity of the arsonist(s) is as yet unknown.
It is the second time in less than six months that Ajax has
become the victim of arson: in early October 2004 the Ajax team
bus
burnt out in the parking lot of the team's hotel just
outside of Groningen. The arsonists were never found.
Sources: ANP, Ajax.nl, NOS Teletekst
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