European roundup: Ajax v Feyenoord called off after flares thrown
Ajax’s home Eredivisie game against Feyenoord was suspended on Sunday as fans threw flares on to the pitch, and mounted police used teargas to disperse rioting fans outside the stadium.
A group of angry Ajax fans tried to force their way into the stadium after the game was halted, leading the police to disperse them with teargas, Amsterdam police wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “After the stopped game supporters broke into the main (stadium) entrance. Order has since been restored,” the police said.
“It is a jet black day, this makes it even worse,” the Ajax coach, Maurice Steijn, told broadcaster NOS. Ajax were 3-0 down in the second half when the game was suspended.
Riot police on horses charging at fans outside of the stadium.#Ajax | #AJAfey pic.twitter.com/DgIvjSS6jT
— All About Ajax (@AllAboutAjax) September 24, 2023
Ajax, who have had a poor start to the season with just one win, sit 13th in the 18-team league and they conceded all three goals in the first half. When flares were thrown on to the pitch for a second time, with many landing near the goal, the referee stopped the match and directed the players down the tunnel.
Fans paid no heed as the club displayed the message “Lighting of fireworks is prohibited” on the big screen at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
“De Klassieker has been permanently suspended after repeated fireworks on the field,” said the Eredivisie in a statement. “More information on playing out this game will follow later.“
Ajax finished third last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 13 seasons. They had finished champions seven times and runners-up another five over the previous 12 seasons.
In Italy, an unstoppable second-half strike from Federico Dimarco gave Internazionale a 1-0 away win at bottom club Empoli on Sunday, restoring their three-point lead at the top of Serie A.
The victory leaves Inter on 15 points after five games, three ahead of Milan, who beat Verona on Saturday. Empoli remain rooted to the bottom of the table with no points and no goals.
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Napoli are already seven points behind Inter after a 0-0 draw at Bologna. Victor Osimhen should have given Napoli the lead with 18 minutes remaining but he fired a penalty wide of the right post. The spot-kick had been awarded after the Bologna midfielder Riccardo Calafiori knocked the ball away with his wrist as he stumbled.
The coach, Rudi Garcia, who took over in June after the resignation of Luciano Spalletti, was jeered by Napoli fans when he substituted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen.