Football chief concerned about cup final ‘battlefield’ image

The chairman of the Dutch football association Michael van Praag has expressed his concerns about the way the forthcoming cup final between Ajax and Feyenoord is being seen as a potential confrontation.

‘I think it is a real pity the cup final is being regarded as a sort of battle field. And I say that as association chairman and football fan,’ Van Praag told Radio Rijnmond. The match will take place on April 25.
And it is a ‘crying shame’ that the stadium for the cup final will probably only be half full because of all the security measures, he said. This will also hurt the Netherlands’ efforts to jointly stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, he said.
Violent clashes between Ajax and Feyenoord fans in the past have led to away side fans being banned from matches between the two clubs.
Rotterdam mayor Achmed Aboutaleb only gave the green light for Ajax fans to attend the match in the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam – the traditional home of the final – if the number of tickets was cut back drastically.