Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 12:11 pm• Last update: 12:10

Ajax has been penalized for setting off fireworks prior to the competition match against Feyenoord. The KNVB professional football prosecutor has imposed a fine of 17,500 euros on the Amsterdam club. Just before the kick-off of The Classic, things went wrong in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, when a banner caught fire, resulting in a large conflagration and smoke development. SC Heerenveen and SC Cambuur have also been reprimanded by the football association.

Supporters of Ajax set off a lot of fireworks before the start of the Classic that won 3-2. In addition, the supporters displayed a large banner in memory of Carlo Picornie, the supporter who died 25 years ago in a massive fight that took place in Beverwijk between Ajax and Feyenoord supporters. The banner caught fire due to the many fireworks, after which the fire quickly spread. The flames could be extinguished because stewards threw fire extinguishers at the supporters in the box, but the smoke development meant that the kick-off had to be postponed. According to the KNVB, it concerned ‘a considerable amount of fireworks’.

It is not the first time that the Amsterdam club has been fined this season for setting off fireworks. The same happened prior to the top match against PSV in October last year. In addition, the fans showed an offensive banner with the text ‘Brainfart Aidshoven’, as a reference to main sponsor Brainport Eindhoven. The club was fined 15,000 euros. Of the amount, 7,500 euros is conditional, with a probationary period of two years. The fine for the action against Feyenoord is 17,500 euros.

In addition to Ajax, sc Heerenveen has also been fined by the Dutch football association. Supporters of the Frisian club set off fireworks in the away game at RKC Waalwijk on 12 March and threw them with them, which resulted in a fine of 11,250 euros. SC Cambuur received a conditional fine of 7,500 from the KNVB. The club from Leeuwarden saw supporters throw fireworks from the branch during the away game at Go Ahead Eagles. A probationary period of two years applies to the suspended sentence.