Feyenoord-Ajax rivalry marred by violence as Klaassen hit by thrown object

Midfielder Davy Klaassen suffered a head injury from an object thrown from the stands during Ajax Amsterdam’s Dutch Cup semi-final match against bitter rivals Feyenoord on Wednesday.

The match was halted for 28 minutes while Klaassen received medical attention and a man was arrested in the stands. Despite the incident, Ajax went on to win 2-1 and book their place in the final against PSV Eindhoven on April 30.

The incident occurred when a confrontation between rival players near the corner flag set off a commotion, during which Klaassen was hit on the head, seemingly by a cigarette lighter.

Ajax players walked off the field, followed by those of Feyenoord, whose assistant coach John de Wolf later came out to berate home supporters before the game resumed.

Dutch international Klaassen, 30, had to be substituted shortly after the game resumed, gesturing that he was suffering from dizziness. The police arrested a 32-year-old man, and the incident is being investigated.

The Cup semi-final had started five minutes late due to smoke from fireworks lit by Feyenoord supporters. The match had to be stopped 21 seconds after kick-off to allow the heavy black smoke to clear. Feyenoord had beaten Ajax away in Amsterdam in a key league game weeks earlier to move close to the Dutch title.

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of fan violence and safety in sports stadiums, with incidents such as this one putting players’ lives at risk.

The Dutch Football Association has condemned the incident and called for stricter measures to be taken to ensure the safety of players and fans alike.