A Dutch second-tier derby was called off on Sunday because the away supporters stopped their own players from getting to it. De Graafschap fans gathered outside the club's stadium in Doetinchem early in the morning and blocked the team bus from leaving for Arnhem, and the match at Vitesse's GelreDome never kicked off.
The protest was about an away-fan ban. Vitesse had announced on Saturday that no De Graafschap supporters would be admitted, a decision they said was taken "based on police information and after extensive consultation with all involved security partners".
What the ban was actually about
Vitesse had offered an allocation of 500 away fans, down from the usual 800, on conditions that included inspecting fan paraphernalia before supporters arrived. The club said it had put various options to De Graafschap over several weeks, but that police information and conversations with the visiting club suggested some supporters were set on bringing their paraphernalia in a way that broke the agreement.
The background is last season's edition of the same fixture, from which De Graafschap fans were also barred after what Vitesse described as "serious disturbances".
Two clubs, two versions
De Graafschap did not accept the account. They said they did "not recognize the picture painted by the Arnhem press release regarding the commitment and stance of our club and our supporters", and added: "As a club, we find it unacceptable that our supporters are portrayed in this manner." After the bus was blocked they said they were "shocked by the incident" and wanted "to let the initial emotion subside and get a full picture of everything before we come with a further substantive response".
Vitesse director Willem van der Linden called the cancellation a "major disappointment" in a letter on the club website. "A wonderful Gelderland derby between two regional clubs, in a well-filled stadium, could not go ahead today," he wrote, adding that Vitesse "did everything possible to still get the match started".
The federation is not amused
The Dutch Football Association confirmed the game would not be played and said the matter goes to its disciplinary bodies. "It is an unacceptable situation that the Vitesse - De Graafschap match cannot go ahead in this way," it said. "That supporters making football impossible is completely intolerable. In doing so, they harm their club, their team, the sport, and the thousands of supporters who do come for the football."
No rearranged date has been set. Van der Linden said the intention was to stage the fixture "under the same circumstances", which means the away ban stands. The two clubs are based less than 20 miles apart; Vitesse are 10th after the weekend and De Graafschap 15th.
Context: Vitesse Arnhem v De Graafschap, Dutch second tier, Sunday 8 November, postponed after De Graafschap supporters blocked their own team bus in Doetinchem in protest at an away-fan ban. The KNVB has referred the matter to its disciplinary bodies. No new date announced.
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