Four hundred Ajax fans banned from key league title tie

Some 400 Ajax supporters have been banned from Sunday’s key tie between the Amsterdam club and Heracles of Almelo, the club and Amsterdam city council have decided.

The ban applies to supporters who were in the section of the ground from where fireworks were thrown onto the pitch during Sunday’s KNVB Cup final between Ajax and PEC Zwolle. The match, which Zwolle won 5-1, was disrupted for almost 30 minutes because of the fireworks.

Ajax could win the Eredivise title on Sunday. If this happens, the club and supporters will be allowed to celebrate victory in Amsterdam, the city council, police and public prosecution department have decided.

Ajax is six points clear of Feyenoord, with two matches still to play so at least a draw will give the Amsterdammers their fourth league title in a row.

Club cards

The supporters who will not be allowed at the game have been identified through the ticket sale system and their club cards have been blocked for the Heracles match.

‘If there are disturbances in Almelo or in Amsterdam this group will also be banned from the last match of the season between Ajax and NEC on May 3 in the Amsterdam Arena,’ the city council said.

Damage to the Kuip pitch and grounds is put at €60,000 which will be paid by Ajax.

Vandals also destroyed advertising hoardings, toilets and sinks at the Rotterdam stadium. ‘This was really extreme. I’ve never seen it before,’ the stadium’s director Jan van Merwijk told local broadcaster RTV Rijnmond.

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