Hooligans attack ADO 'home'; no Ajax fans at Zuiderpark
11 February: A new, tragic chapter has been added to the
long history of hooligan violence between fans of ADO Den Haag
and Ajax. On Friday evening, around 23:00 CET, an estimated 70
Amsterdam hooligans invaded the supporters' home of their The
Hague enemies, creating considerable havoc and wounding at
least eight Den Haag fans. Mayor Deetman of The Hague has
banned Ajax supporters from Sunday's Eredivisie game between
the two clubs.
According to the first reports two Den Haag supporters were
stabbed, while one other was assaulted with a baseball bat.
Reportedly, at least eight Den Haag fans were injured.
According to an ADO Den Haag spokesman interior of the
suppporters' home was "effectively destroyed" by the intruders.
A police spokesman also confirmed that the hooligans
(unsuccesfully) attempted to set fire to the 'home'.
According to ADO Den Haag it was a "surprise attack" rather
than a pre-arranged riot. The Hague police reacted resolutely
and immediately blocked off the A4 and A44 motorways from The
Hague to Amsterdam, so that ten suspects could be arrested.
Police have confirmed that these ten persons belong to the
'hard core' of Ajax hooligans known to the police.
Meanwhile, ADO Den Haag supporters gathered around the
supporters' home, where the atmosphere was grim around
midnight. Approximately 150 Den Haag supporters
were detained inside the supporters' home by riot police.
According to reports the situation around Zuiderpark Stadium is
now relatively quiet and under control of the police. Mayor
Deetman declared the 'state of emergency' in the area for 48
hours, banned Ajax supporters from Sunday's Eredivisie match
and is generally expected to ban the Ajax support
from The Hague for the next five years.
Ajax, ADO Den Haag and the Royal Dutch Football Association
(KNVB) were reluctant in their first comments. KNVB official
Henk Kesler said: "I do not know the facts. The police are
currently investigating the case."
ADO Den Haag chairman John Ringelenstein only wished to say
that he feels "very sad" about what happened. An Ajax spokesman
stated: "Ajax strongly disapprove of what happened here, quite
obviously. If the police can confirm that Ajax supporters were
involved [which they did shortly after the statement was
made, ed.], the club will act against these
individuals."
This morning Ajax published an official statement on their
official website, in which the club express their "disgust"
about the attack. Ajax feels that the arrested hooligans
must be prosecuted and if they do not have a stadium ban yet,
Ajax will impose them on the perpetrators. Ajax and ADO Den
Haag have decided to cancel all of today's matches
between youth teams of the two clubs. According to the
statement Ajax "understand mayor Deetman's decision" to ban
Ajax supporters from tomorrow's game at Zuiderpark Stadium.
Ajax's general director Maarten Fontein is quoted saying: "I
am deeply shocked by the seriousness of this incident, also
because this means that our good supporters can not attend
the match on Sunday. Ajax are determined to ban these
individuals from our stadium permanently. They do not belong
there."
Several media in The Netherlands have suggested that
the attack on the ADO Den Haag supporters' home could well be
an act of retaliation. In January 2005 the Ajax supporters'
home was destroyed
completely by a fire that was
set deliberately, as the police confirmed shortly
after the inferno. The arsonists were never found, but the
hard core of Den Haag supporters were suspected by many Ajax
fans. A link between the two incidents was only suggested by
some Dutch media, and not by the police or either of
the two clubs. (MP)
UPDATE 11 February: In the NOS Journaal on
national television, as well as in AT5 News, mayor
Deetman of The Hague announced that Ajax fans will be banned
from away games at ADO Den Haag for five seasons if there are
any incidents around the game on Sunday or in the near future.
His words were later repeated by Henk Kesler, director of the
KNVB.
Sources: NOS Teletekst, Nu.nl, Ajax.nl, AT5
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