A match between Dutch football clubs Feyenoord and Ajax Amsterdam, slated for Sunday, has been postponed due to a police strike.
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said in a statement that the postponement was necessary since "the safety of the players and the public cannot be fully guaranteed without the involvement of the police.”
Police unions issued the strike warning on Monday, stating they would not be enforcing order at the high-risk match between Feyenoord and Ajax. The unions have been pressing for improved early retirement systems, and their demands are yet to be met.
The match was due to be attended only by fans of home team Feyenoord. Unruly incidents at previous matches had led authorities to ban away fans from all encounters between the two clubs. However, this did guarantee absolute security.
Last year, an Ajax versus Feyenoord match in Amsterdam was halted due to flares being launched onto the pitch, resulting in clashes between fans.
A week ago, there was no police presence at games between FC Twente and Sparta Rotterdam, and NAC Breda and Ajax, but those matches were not considered “at risk.”
No new date has been set for the Feyenoord vs Ajax fixture.
