Rotterdam mayor Achmed Aboutaleb said on Thursday that Sunday’s key Eredivisie tie between Feyenoord and Vitesse will not go ahead because of the police industrial action.

‘The strike both during and ahead of the match means the safety of players and supporters cannot be guaranteed,’ the mayor said. ‘It would not be responsible to take any risks, so I cannot let the game go ahead.’

Feynoord is currently third in the Eredivisie and Vitesse is five points behind in fifth place. There are just two matches left this season.

Feyenoord, Vitesse and AZ are competing for third place in the competition, which gives automatic placement in the Europa League. Football association and club officials are now trying to reschedule the match.

The Groningen-PEC Zwolle game – a replay of last weekend’s KNVB Cup final – is also being targeted by police but will go ahead.

Police unions are demanding a 3.3% pay rise to end a four-year pay freeze as well as measures to enable older police officers to retire before the age of 67 and compensation for the effect of the recent major reorganisation of policing operations.