News Report: No Police Presence at Ajax-FC Utrecht Match Due to Early Retirement Protest
Amsterdam, 6 September 2024 — The upcoming Ajax-FC Utrecht football match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam will proceed without police presence, as announced by trade unions representing law enforcement officers. The police are currently protesting for a fair early retirement scheme, a campaign that has escalated over recent months.
The decision to withdraw police officers from the match, scheduled for September 15, follows a similar protest last weekend that led to the cancellation of the Feyenoord-Ajax match due to safety concerns. Ajax fans expressed their disappointment at the latest development, with Fabian Nagtzaam, the head of the Supportersvereniging Ajax, saying, We were also surprised by the news this morning. We understand the goal, but not the means and the action.
The unions, united under the banner of Landelijk Actiecentrum Politieacties, chose this particular match for their protest due to the high number of police officers typically deployed and the significant pressure associated with the event. It remains uncertain whether the match will proceed, with Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema expected to make a decision after the weekend.
The police have been engaged in a series of actions to demand improvements to the current early retirement scheme (RVU), which is set to expire next year. These actions have included not issuing fines, closing police stations to the public, noise protests, and now, not deploying officers to Eredivisie matches.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the unions’ decision to avoid negotiations as a pity, suggesting that they are strategically avoiding the bargaining table. He pointed to a serious proposal from Social Affairs Minister Eddy van Hijum as evidence of the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue.
Ajax, which has only played two matches this season due to the protests, is eager to resume its schedule. Nagtzaam emphasized the importance of continuing the competition, stating, The match against FC Utrecht going ahead is of great importance for the normal course of the competition.
As the situation unfolds, fans and stakeholders await further clarity on whether the match will proceed and what the long-term implications of the protest will be for both the football community and the labor relations within the police force.
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