The Dutch football association KNVB has announced new measures to try to halt the surge in trouble at matches, following this week’s key cup tie incident in which Ajax player Davy Klaassen was hit by a lighter thrown from the crowd.

If a similar incident were to occur again, the game will be immediately abandoned, the KNVB said on Thursday evening.

Officials came in for considerable criticism on Wednesday for allowing the game to resume after Klaassen was left with a head wound. The person who threw the lighter has been arrested.

The KNMI also said that if fans throw objects on the pitch without hitting a player, the game will be paused and the fans warned. If it happens again then the game will also be abandoned.

Should a supporter invade the pitch, the game will also be halted and abandoned if it happens again. If a supporter attacks a player or the referee, the game will be abandoned immediately.

The KNVB said it hoped the measures would be enough to stop people attacking players. ‘We have absolutely had enough,’ KNVB professional football director Marianne van Leeuwen said.

‘Public safety in and around stadiums is a top priority and this is something we do with clubs, supporters, local authorities, the police and ministers. Football must remain accessible and safe for all real supporters.’

Unions

Police union ACP said officials should have more powers to refuse potential troublemakers entry to the grounds. Good supporters are currently being punished for the actions of the few ACP chairman Wim Groeneweg told news website Nu.nl.

In extreme cases, where there is a serious risk of crowd trouble, all supporters should be banned from attending, the ACP chairman said.

Players

Last month, Dutch football players union VVCS called on the KNVB to do more to protect players following a string of incidents.

Trouble on the pitch during the Groningen-Heerenveen match earlier in March resulted in Groningen player Jetro Willems being punched by a supporter. A teenager has since been arrested.

In February, a PSV supporter attacked the Sevilla keeper during their Europa League tie. The 20-year-old has been given a 40-year stadium ban and a three month suspended jail sentence.