![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976466.jpg?r=1695629991315\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ajax director Jan van Halst has blasted the club’s supporters after angry fans launched fireworks onto the pitch and vandalised their own stadium which forced their match with Feyenoord to be abandoned. The Dutch giants were facing humiliation at home to their Klassieker rivals, but the behaviour of their fans has left club chiefs feeling ‘angry and disappointed’ after police were forced to step in to halt the violence.<\/p>\n
Feyenoord raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time with Santiago Gimenez scoring twice and Igor Paixao getting on the scoresheet as well. Faced with humiliation, fans in the Ajax section threw fireworks and other pyrotechnic materials onto the pitch, causing the game to be stopped twice.<\/p>\n
A section of fans then tried to break into the stadium\u2019s main entrance before police got the situation under control, but the game was called off in the 56th minute. Feyenoord players and staff were kept in the away dressing room as it emerged it was unsafe for them to leave.<\/p>\n
Other areas of the Johann Cruijff Arena were seen either damaged or left broken as part of the self-inflicted destruction, with Amsterdam police confirming fans tried to access the stadium from outside.<\/p>\n
MORE LIKE THIS <\/strong> Turkish derby ends in bloody violence after flare explodes on fan[WORLD] <\/strong><\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Van Halst, Ajax\u2019s temporary director of general affairs, was put in front of the media to explain how the situation had spiralled out of control. When asked about the future of their director of football Sven Mislintat, he dodged the question and instead used the opportunity to condemn the behaviour of their supporters in disrupting De Klassieker, arguably the Netherlands’ most historic league fixture.<\/p>\n “I understand your question very well. That will affect many people,” Van Halst told ESPN. “But I hope you also understand that we are at one of the most important matches in Dutch football that has just been stopped. That\u2019s a serious thing.<\/p>\n “Everyone is angry and disappointed about that [the fans’ behaviour]. The important thing is that all supporters and guests who have been here were able to leave safely. It seemed to be going reasonably well at the end, but we are still trying to manage that.”<\/p>\n DON’T MISS <\/strong> It later transpired that Mislintat was fired immediately after the game, while head coach Maurice Steijn has been left clinging to his job. Fans had also held up banners calling for the board to step down after a dismal start to the season, with the 36-time champions languishing in 14th in the table after just one victory in six games this season.<\/p>\n “Those supporters want to express their disappointment. We understand that disappointment enormously,” Van Halst added. “It is a very bad start to the season and there is fuss surrounding this new beginning. We all understand that.<\/p>\n “But we strongly disapprove of showing that in this behaviour. In the Netherlands, we are busy normalising all this with all kinds of measures, but apparently, it is not enough yet. We need to talk about that.”<\/p>\n A club statement released later on Sunday read: “Ajax’s management and supervisory board distance themselves from the misconduct that led to the suspension of the match against Feyenoord and the disturbances afterwards.<\/p>\n “Disappointment about the season’s poor start is understandable but can never be the cause of disorderly conduct. We apologise to everyone who has felt unsafe or has been affected in any other way.”<\/p>\n The Eredivisie are now likely to launch an investigation into Sunday’s events and said “more information about how to complete this match will follow later”. Given that Feyenoord were already 3-0 up, it would be highly unlikely that the entire match would be replayed.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976488.jpg?r=1695629991357\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976474.jpg?r=1695629991402\")
<\/p>\n
Football match called off after travellers set up camp[LATEST] <\/strong>
Masked men force non-league game to be abandoned as hearse left on pitch[NEWS] <\/strong>
Benfica win farcical Primeira Liga game as opponents start with nin…[ARCHIVE] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976469.jpg?r=1695629991441\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976478.jpg?r=1695629991493\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976481.jpg?r=1695629991537\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4976479.jpg?r=1695629991591\")
<\/p>\n