Police Strike Halts Dutch 'Klassieker' as Feyenoord-Ajax Clash Postponed

The Rotterdam municipality has banned the Dutch league match between Feyenoord Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam due to a planned police strike. Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb cited safety concerns as police will not work during the high-profile game. The ongoing police campaign seeks better early retirement conditions, impacting match scheduling.

The Rotterdam municipality has banned the highly anticipated Dutch league match between Feyenoord Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam due to a planned police strike. Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb confirmed the decision on Tuesday, citing safety concerns as police will not work during the game, known locally as the 'Klassieker.'

'The safety of the players, but also of the public, cannot be sufficiently guaranteed without the use of the police,' Mayor Aboutaleb stated. The police union revealed they would have no members present at the stadium in a bid to force an agreement with the government on early retirement regulations.

Home fans are usually the only spectators allowed into De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam for the Ajax clashes, a measure implemented to curb crowd violence. Even with this restriction, last September's clash saw disruptions, including fireworks thrown onto the pitch and subsequent riots leading to 15 arrests and two injured police officers.

The Dutch football association (KNVB) warned of potential fixture chaos if police continue to use football events for their labor protests. 'Football is now being used as a means, and that says a lot about its impact. But that is not what football is meant for,' the KNVB stated. The associations for both Feyenoord and Ajax expressed their disappointment over the situation.

Since May, Dutch police have been pushing for better early retirement conditions through various protests, including issuing fewer fines and closing police stations to the public. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

(With inputs from agencies.)