Dutch Mayor bans De Klassieker with five days' notice | OneFootball

Breaking news in the Netherlands has confirmed one of the Eredivisie’s fiercest rivalries will not occur this weekend.

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has decided to ban the clash between Feyenoord and Ajax scheduled for September 1 at Feyenoord Stadium.

The city’s current police strike has created safety concerns and while initial reports claimed only Feyenoord fans would attend, the game has now officially been cancelled.

A long-standing history between two of the most successful teams in the Netherlands tends to create concerning scenes. Last September, riots broke out, the match was abandoned and Dutch news outlets claimed 15 people were arrested.

“This is a decision that I made in consultation with the security triangle. Safety for the players, but also for the public, cannot be sufficiently guaranteed without the involvement of the police,” read a statement from Aboutaleb to De Telegraaf.

The Dutch police have reportedly been notified of the decision and Ajax later confirmed the news on Tuesday. The club confirmed the match will be played at a later date.

“As long as there is no new agreement for a new early retirement or prospect thereof, we will continue to campaign unabated,” said police union spokesperson Maarten Brink.

“Our actions will not only focus on football matches, but may also include events and demonstrations in the future.”

Looking at the Eredivisie table, Feyenoord sit sixth and Ajax sit ninth.