The Ajax and Feyenoord supporters’ associations are making an urgent appeal to their supporters now that Steven Berghuis’ transfer to Amsterdam is about to be completed. A video of a Feyenoord fan letting two Berghuis match shirts go up in smoke, the home and away kit, is an innocent example compared to the furious reactions of both Ajax and Feyenoord supporters on social media.
“The emotions shoot from left to right,” says Fabian Nagtzaam, director of the Supporters Association Ajax, in conversation with the General Newspaper. “Some of our supporters applaud the fact that the club has managed to bring in Feyenoord’s captain and best player. Another part doesn’t like his arrival at all. The feelings are really very ambivalent.”
Lol as expected the first #Mountain house #Feyenoord shirts are already being burned. Just burn an official shirt, how sad can a feyenoord player be. #Ajax pic.twitter.com/JaxBZvLnJU
— ThaOracle (@tha_oracle) July 12, 2021
In Rotterdam, on the other hand, there is mainly anger and annoyance because the fans of Feyenoord ‘feel betrayed’, reacts Remco Ravenhorst, chairman of supporters’ association De Feijenoorder. Berghuis is only the fourth player ever to go from Feyenoord to Ajax. “That’s the best way to describe the feeling. Look, every footballer is free to make a certain choice. The frustration in this transfer is mainly due to the fact that Berghuis has acted a kind of club love for years.”
“He would never make a domestic transfer because he loved Feyenoord so much. Well, apparently he doesn’t have that club love. Otherwise he would never take this sensitive step. He is greatly blamed by the Feyenoord supporters.” However, the fact that Feyenoord fans feel cheated should not lead to excesses. “Disappointment should of course never lead to forms of intimidation. We strongly disapprove of that,” emphasizes Ravenhorst.
Nagtzaam emphasizes that the Ajax supporters’ association believes that Berghuis should show it on the field. “We will judge him by that, not by where he comes from. I hope everyone continues to look at it somewhat in that nuanced way. Please keep the comments within reasonable limits.”