A Dutch football match between Ajax and Groningen was dramatically abandoned on Sunday night after only five minutes of play when a large fireworks display was set off by fans inside the stadium.
Chaos Erupts at Johan Cruyff Arena
The highly anticipated Eredivisie clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena came to a sudden and shocking halt shortly after kick-off. The referee had no choice but to stop the game in the 5th minute as fireworks began exploding above the stand behind the Ajax goal.
Players from both teams immediately stopped playing and moved away from the pyrotechnics, heading in the opposite direction before being escorted back down the tunnel by officials. The fireworks continued to explode for well over a minute after the pitch had been cleared, filling the stadium with smoke and creating a significant safety hazard.
Safety Concerns Force Match Abandonment
Match officials ultimately made the decision to abandon the game entirely because they could not guarantee the safety of the players on the pitch. Reports suggest the fireworks display was intended as a tribute to a fan who had recently passed away, but the dangerous execution inside the closed stadium environment made continuation impossible.
Ajax released a strongly worded statement expressing their fury at the incident, describing what happened as "utterly scandalous" and apologising to everyone affected. The club emphasised that spectator and player safety had been jeopardised and that such conduct was "unacceptable."
Club Vows to Identify Those Responsible
In their statement, Ajax made it clear they would be taking serious action to identify those responsible for the dangerous incident. The club revealed that despite implementing preventative security measures including frisking spectators in the affected section, using detection dogs both inside the stadium before opening and at entrances, they were unable to prevent the fireworks from entering.
The club confirmed they will be reviewing camera footage and conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators, with "appropriate action" to follow for anyone found responsible. Ajax strongly distanced themselves from the misconduct, stating unequivocally that "fireworks have no place in the stadium."
