By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 12 – Belgium and the Netherlands campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup could be damaged if there is violence at the Dutch Cup Final between Ajax and Feyenoord later this month, the chairman of the joint bid fears.
The warning came from Michael van Praag, the President of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee.
Strict security measures are being implemented for the match on April 25 at De Kuip, Feyenoord’s home stadium in Rotterdam, amid fears of clashes between rival fans.
These include drastically reducing the number of tickets available in the stadium which has a capacity of 51,577 and is part of the Belgium-Holland World Cup bid.
Violent clashes between Ajax and Feyenoord fans in the past have led to away side fans being banned from matches between the two clubs.
Rotterdam mayor Achmed Aboutaleb only gave permission for Ajax fans to attend the match in the De Kuip Stadium – the traditional home of the final – if the number of tickets were cut back drastically.
Ajax fans are currently banned from De Kuip while Feyenoord supporters are not allowed to attend games at the Amsterdam Arena, Ajax’s home ground.
The bloodiest encounter between rival fans of the two clubs was in 1997 in which several people were seriously injured and Carlo Picornie, an Ajax supporter, was beaten to death.
That led to a nationwide campaign - “Football: don’t mess it up”.
Van Praag, a former chairman of Ajax, told Radio Rijnmond: ”I think it is a real pity the Cup Final is being regarded as a sort of battle field.
“And I say that as association chairman and football fan.
“It is a crying shame that the stadium for the Cup Final will probably only be half full because of all the security measures.
“This will also hurt the Netherlands’ efforts to jointly stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.”
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