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Ajax wants KNVB to find alternative venue for cup final

27 April: VI Planet.nl and AT5 Television report that Ajax has asked the KNVB several times to search for a new location for the Amstel Cup final, now scheduled for Sunday 12 May in Rotterdam's De Kuip.

The cup final has been a hot item in The Netherlands for several weeks now. The Rotterdam city council regards the final, between Ajax and FC Utrecht, as a maximum risk event. Therefore, De Kuip will only be half-filled, with some 25,000 spectators. Additionally, the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Opstelten, wants the FC Utrecht fans to travel by bus, whereas Ajax' support will have to take the train to Rotterdam.

Due to extra safety measures imposed by the Dutch Railways (NS), only 5,900 Ajax fans can attend the final. FC Utrecht has been allocated 15,000 tickets.

Ajax and its supporters agree that this is an unfair situation and have filed complaints with the KNVB and the Rotterdam city council. The Co-operating Football Fans Organisations (SOVS) of The Netherlands share the statement of the Ajax fans.

Delegations of F-Side, Official Fan Club (SVA) and Independent Fan Club (OFA) demand of Ajax that the club refuse to play the final if less than 15,000 Ajax fans are allowed into the De Kuip. So far, Ajax has not made such a promise. However, general manager Arie van Eijden has called the situation "unacceptable". On behalf of the players, Cristian Chivu, André Bergdølmo and Fred Grim have written an open letter, demanding a fair ticket allocation for Ajax fans.

The Independent Ajax Fanclub has officially asked permission for a demonstration in Rotterdam, on 08 May, the day of the UEFA Cup final between Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund. The F-Side has announced "wild actions".

During the Ajax vs FC Utrecht league game of 21 April, F-Side fans put up a large red banner in the Amsterdam ArenA, saying: '15,000 or f##k it'. Several independent Ajax fansites have added the slogan '15,000 tickets or no final' to their homepages.

Ajax has now admitted to AT5 Television that the club has asked the KNVB to re-schedule the cup final to a different stadium than De Kuip. Due to these problems, presale for the Amstel Cup final has still not commenced for Ajax fans. (MP)

(Source: VI Planet.nl)