PSV vs Ajax (once again...) called off due to police strike
08 March: History has repeated itself: just like in the first half of the season (December 2007) the top Eredivisie clash between PSV and Ajax has been called off due to a police strike. Ajax decided to sue the police unions on Saturday, but the verdict of the judge was clear: the police have the right to go on strike.
The mayor of Eindhoven, Mr. Braks, had announced before the case that he would veto the 'high risk' Eredivisie fixture if there would be no police presence. The outcome of Ajax's lawsuit left him no other choice than to call the match off.
The Dutch police and minister Guusje ter Horst of Internal Affairs are still 'at war' about the collective labour agreement for police officers: the police demand a considerable pay-raise, which the minister won't give them.
Ajax did not want to take sides, but argued that it was unfair that the same two profesisonal football clubs and their supporters are once again the victims of the dispute. On Saturday, the judge rejected Ajax's point.
The verdict appears to be better news for PSV than it is for Ajax. For PSV, the crucial Ajax game was scheduled in between their two midweek UEFA Cup fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur. Also: the reigning champions from Eindhoven are six points clear of Ajax, with seven matches left to play. The sooner Ajax get their rivals within a 'shooting range' of three points, the higher the pressure on the defending champions.
A new date for the vital league match has not been announced yet. It will, of course, be announced on Ajax USA as soon as it's been set. Ajax's next match is the 16 March home game against Willem II. (Menno Pot)
UPDATE 10 March 2008: The KNVB have found a new date for last weekend's vital fixture between PSV and Ajax. The match will now be played on Wednesday 19 March, kick-off at 20:45 CET. "We want this fixture to be played as soon as possible," a KNVB spokesman said. "This match can not wait 'til the final weeks of the season." The choice was easy, in a way: with PSV still competing in the UEFA Cup and a Holland friendly coming up, Wednesday 19 March was pretty much the only option.
Sources: NOS Teletekst, de Volkskrant, Ajax.nl
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