Rotterdam Bans Feyenoord-Ajax Match Due to Police Strike

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has canceled the highly anticipated match between Feyenoord and Ajax due to a planned police strike, stating that public safety cannot be guaranteed without police presence. The police are striking to demand a decent early retirement scheme, leading to their absence from the match, which has a history of crowd trouble. Both Feyenoord and Ajax expressed disappointment over the cancellation, with Ajax labeling it a 'shame' that football is affected by the police's protests. The Dutch football association (KNVB) indicated the match may have to be rescheduled for a weekday evening, which they acknowledged would not be ideal for fans. Concerns have been raised that ongoing police strikes could jeopardize the regular football schedule, potentially affecting the competition for millions of Dutch fans. The police unions stated their campaign would extend beyond football matches, impacting various events and demonstrations.