A Dutch second-tier match between Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap was known as off after away workforce supporters blocked their very own workforce’s bus from departing for the sport.
Followers of De Graafschap had been protesting the choice to ban away followers from attending the sport at Vitesse’s GelreDome stadium after supporters had not agreed to safety measures set out for the derby fixture.
Reviews in Dutch media stated De Graafschap followers gathered exterior their stadium in Doetinchem early on Sunday and blocked the bus from leaving.
The Dutch Soccer Affiliation stated in an announcement that the match wouldn’t go forward on Sunday and that the matter can be referred to the disciplinary our bodies.
“It’s an unacceptable scenario that the Vitesse – De Graafschap match can’t go forward on this manner. That supporters making soccer unimaginable is totally insupportable,” it stated.
“In doing so, they hurt their membership, their workforce, the game, and the hundreds of supporters who do come for the soccer.”
In a Saturday assertion, exterior, Vitesse introduced that that they had made the choice to ban away followers “primarily based on police info and after intensive session with all concerned safety companions.”
They’d proposed an away followers allocation of 500 – minimize from the usual 800 – depending on quite a lot of safety measures together with “fan paraphernalia introduced alongside needed to be topic to inspection previous to the supporters’ arrival.”
“Over the previous few weeks, Vitesse, the police, and the municipality have repeatedly provided De Graafschap varied choices to fulfill these circumstances.
“Nevertheless, police info and conversations with De Graafschap point out {that a} portion of the supporters is insisting on bringing fan paraphernalia in a way opposite to the agreements made.”
Vitesse added their choice had been made in gentle of “critical disturbances” surrounding the 2025-26 version of the fixture, from which De Graafschap supporters had been additionally banned.
Of their response to the announcement, exterior, De Graafschap stated they did “not acknowledge the image painted by the Arnhem press launch concerning the dedication and stance of our membership and our supporters.
“As a membership, we discover it unacceptable that our supporters are portrayed on this method.”
Responding to the cancellation Vitesse director Willem van der Linden stated the cancellation was a “main disappointment”.
“An exquisite Gelderland derby between two regional golf equipment, in a well-filled stadium, couldn’t go forward at the moment,” he wrote in a letter posted on the membership’s web site, exterior.
“Within the run-up to the match, Vitesse, in shut cooperation with all events concerned, did every thing potential to nonetheless get the match began.”
De Graafschap stated in an announcement on social media that they had been “shocked by the incident” and “wish to let the preliminary emotion subside and get a full image of every thing earlier than we include an extra substantive response.”
A brand new date for the fixture is but to be introduced, however Van der Linden stated the intention was to carry the sport “below the identical circumstances.”
Vitesse are tenth after the weekend’s fixtures whereas De Graafschap, who play lower than 20 miles to the east of their rivals, sit in fifteenth.