The police of the Northern Netherlands refuse to accompany supporters of SC Cambuur and FC Groningen to away games, following threats that were allegedly received. The Cambuur away section will therefore remain empty at PSV next Sunday.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the mayor of Eindhoven, eventually made the decision to ban Cambuur’s 125 away fans. “I don’t want to receive supporters who misbehave in such a way that police officers can no longer do their job,” he said.
It is unknown whether supporters of FC Groningen will also be banned. Groningen will play against AZ in Alkmaar on Saturday.
Ard de Graaf, general manager of Cambuur, emphasizes that he disapproves of any form of threat, but regrets Dijsselboem’s decision, “It goes much too far to punish a very large group of benevolent supporters for that and that is now what the hand is,” read a statement on the club’s site.
No away fans at Cambuur
Mayor Sybrand Buma of the municipality of Leeuwarden had decided last month not to allow away audiences at Cambuur’s home games for the rest of this season. This is due to ongoing and increasing public order disturbances around home duels.
In particular during the Frisian derby against sc Heerenveen things went wrong. Then everything was thrown on the field during the game. Afterwards, the supporters of both teams sought confrontation, resulting in eight arrests.
Not everyone understood Buma’s decision to keep out supporters as a solution. Fans of Go Ahead Eagles, which lost 4-1 last Sunday, protested in Leeuwarden on Sunday and a banner was hung in the stadium with an appeal to the mayor.
- No more audience welcome at home duels Cambuur after riots around Frisian derby
