ANP Police van on an empty square in front of the Arena
NOS News•Monday, 16:58•Modified Monday, 17:09
The Eredivisie match Ajax against FC Utrecht in the Johan Cruijff Arena will not take place on Sunday. This was decided by the administrative triangle of Amsterdam (mayor, police and Public Prosecution Service) due to the announced police actions.
“The safety of the players, supporters and public order in the city cannot be guaranteed without the important efforts of the police,” the municipality announced. The municipality says it understands the police actions, but regrets that Ajax is now being hit again.
The option of playing without an audience has also been discussed, according to the municipality. “But even then, the risk of riots and unsafe situations is too great and irresponsible to take without possible police deployment.” Reference is made to Ajax-Utrecht last March, where provocation between the supporter groups got out of hand and the mobile unit was needed.
Ajax is very disappointed, the club says in a response. According to the Amsterdam football club, the match could have gone ahead without the police, “with additional measures and good agreements between both clubs and supporters”.
Early retirement
Table of Contents
- 1 Early retirement
- 2 2 million per week
- 3 ‘Every three years again’
- 4 What are the reasons behind the ongoing police strike in the Netherlands and how is it affecting football matches like Ajax vs. FC Utrecht?
- 5 What are the main reasons behind the ongoing police strike in the Netherlands and how does it relate to the cancellation of Eredivisie football matches?
Table of Contents
For months, police unions have been campaigning for a better early retirement scheme. The current scheme expires next year, and the unions are also unhappy with its content. Last week, they announced that there would be no police presence at Ajax-FC Utrecht.
The Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Ajax in Rotterdam was also cancelled two weeks ago due to the announced actions. Only fans of the home team were supposed to be in the stadium, but mayor Aboutaleb still felt that “the safety of the players, but also of the public, cannot be sufficiently guaranteed without the use of the police”. This match has been moved to October 30.
2 million per week
The work stoppage at Ajax-FC Utrecht is the sixth police action at Eredivisie matches. Police in Action says that the actions will continue unabated if there is insufficient prospect of a breakthrough in the conflict over early retirement. Other actions are also ongoing; for example, the police have been issuing fewer fines since May. The organization estimates the value of all unissued fines at 1.5 to 2 million euros per week.
In other sectors, too, action is being taken for a better arrangement for early retirement. Today, cleaners throughout the Netherlands have stopped working, such as the cleaning staff at Schiphol. Work stoppages have also been announced this week among cleaning staff on trains, in regional transport, in construction and in industry.
‘Every three years again’
Last week, Minister Van Hijum of Social Affairs put a proposal on the table. According to the FNV trade union, it was again a temporary arrangement, including an income limit in the early retirement scheme, a maximum of 15,000 people who may enter the scheme and a three-yearly review. The unions are actually advocating a permanent and structural arrangement. “This way, we get this unrest again every three years,” the union responded.
What are the reasons behind the ongoing police strike in the Netherlands and how is it affecting football matches like Ajax vs. FC Utrecht?
Police Strike Causes Chaos in Dutch Football: Ajax-FC Utrecht Match Postponed
The ongoing police strike in the Netherlands has led to the postponement of the highly anticipated Eredivisie match between Ajax and FC Utrecht, scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Johan Cruijff Arena. This decision was made by the administrative triangle of Amsterdam, consisting of the mayor, police, and Public Prosecution Service, due to the announced police actions [[1]].
The police unions have been campaigning for a better early retirement scheme, which is set to expire next year. They are unhappy with the current scheme’s content and have been taking action to press for a better arrangement. This includes refusing to provide police presence at certain events, including football matches [[2]].
The Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Ajax in Rotterdam was also cancelled two weeks ago due to the police strike, with the mayor citing safety concerns as the reason for the cancellation [[3]]. The match has been rescheduled for October 30.
The municipality of Amsterdam understands the police actions, but regrets that Ajax is being affected again. They had considered the option of playing the match without an audience, but ultimately decided that the risk of riots and unsafe situations was too great to take without police deployment [[1]].
Ajax is “very disappointed” with the decision, and believes that the match could have gone ahead without police presence, with additional measures and good agreements between both clubs and supporters. The club is upset that they are being affected by the police strike for the second time in a row [[1]].
This work stoppage is the sixth police action at Eredivisie matches, with Police in Action vowing to continue their actions until a breakthrough is reached in the conflict over early retirement. The police have also been issuing fewer fines since May, with an estimated 1.5 to 2 million euros per week in unissued fines [[1]].
The police strike is not limited to the football sector, with cleaners throughout the Netherlands stopping work, including the cleaning staff at Schiphol. Work stoppages have also been announced in other sectors, all demanding a better arrangement for early retirement [[1]].
The postponement of the Ajax-FC Utrecht match is a significant blow to football fans in the Netherlands, and highlights the impact of the police strike on various sectors. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and when a resolution will be reached.
References:
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1fcrfkb/fcutrechtajaxfcutrechtnextweekhasbeen/”>[1]
What are the main reasons behind the ongoing police strike in the Netherlands and how does it relate to the cancellation of Eredivisie football matches?
Police Strike in the Netherlands: Understanding the Impact on Football Matches
The Netherlands has been experiencing a police strike that has been affecting various aspects of daily life, including football matches. The strike has led to the cancellation of several Eredivisie matches, including the highly anticipated Ajax vs. FC Utrecht game. But what are the reasons behind this ongoing strike, and how is it affecting football matches like Ajax vs. FC Utrecht?
Early Retirement Scheme: The Spark Behind the Strike
The police unions in the Netherlands have been campaigning for a better early retirement scheme for months. The current scheme is set to expire next year, and the unions are unhappy with its content. They have been pushing for a more comprehensive scheme that addresses their concerns.
The Impact on Football Matches
The police strike has already led to the cancellation of several Eredivisie matches, including the Feyenoord and Ajax game in Rotterdam two weeks ago [[2]]. The match between Ajax and FC Utrecht was also called off due to the announced police actions [[1]]. The municipality of Amsterdam decided to cancel the match, citing concerns about public safety and order.
The option of playing without an audience was also discussed, but the municipality felt that even then, the risk of riots and unsafe situations was too great to take without possible police deployment [[1]]. This decision was made in light of the previous match between Ajax and FC Utrecht in March, where provocation between supporter groups got out of hand and the mobile unit was needed.
Ajax Disappointed, But Understanding
Ajax is very disappointed by the cancellation of the match, but the club says it understands the police actions [[1]]. According to Ajax, the match could have gone ahead without the police, “with additional measures and good agreements between both clubs and supporters”.
The Financial Impact
The police strike is not only affecting football matches but also has a significant financial impact. The organization estimates that the value of all unissued fines since May is around 1.5 to 2 million euros per week [[3]]. This is a substantial amount, and the strike is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the economy.
The Way Forward
The police strike in the Netherlands is an ongoing issue, and its impact on football matches is just one aspect of the broader problem. The government and police unions need to come together to find a solution that addresses the concerns of the police and ensures public safety. Until then, football fans in the Netherlands will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds.
the police strike in the Netherlands is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for various aspects of daily life, including football matches. Understanding the reasons behind the strike and its impact on football matches is essential for finding a solution that works for everyone involved.
