Riots, sporting crisis, dismissal of the sports director – things are going haywire at the renowned Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam.
Marco van Basten would like to close the whole store straight away. “Stop professional football in the Netherlands. I mean that seriously because obviously we can’t behave.”commented the former “Orange”-World star the riots in Amsterdam, which finally brought the crisis-ridden record champions Ajax to a low point in their glorious history.
The former one Bond coach and Ajax coach van Basten was shocked by the scenes that unfolded in the capital on Sunday. Ajax problem fans had thrown pyrotechnics to stop the home game Feyenoord Rotterdam taken care of. At this point Rotterdam was leading 3-0. As a result, tumults broke out in front of the stadium, with some rioters arguing with the police and throwing paving stones. “Politicians must address the issue”demanded van Basten.
Worst start to the season since 1965
“This has nothing to do with football and being a fan. You are playing with the safety of the players, their fellow fans and themselves. Shame on you.”, Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius wrote on X after frustration over Ajax’s sporting crisis turned into violence. As a logical consequence, the sequel will take place on September 27th without fans in the stands.
With just one point from their first five games, Ajax have made their worst start to the season since 1965. Hours after the low point against Feyenoord, sporting director Sven Mislintat was fired. The reason for this is this “Lack of broad support within the organization” for the former Stuttgart player, the club said. Coach Maurice Steijn is also criticized.
Fans demand Louis van Gaal
However, former Bayern coach Louis van Gaal is not available for a rescue mission. “My health comes first”said van Gaal to the TV channel “NOS”. He be “no longer able to coach a club”, added the 72-year-old. The Ajax supporters kept chanting Van Gaal’s name before the game was abandoned. The former bond coach, who was briefly discussed as Hansi Flick’s successor as national coach, nipped hopes of a return to his former club in the bud. Van Gaal, who played with Ajax in 1995 Champions League won, is seriously ill and is undergoing constant treatment.
109 million euros spent on new players
What happens next with Ajax remains to be seen. First of all, Mislintat’s term of office, which lasted just four months, must be dealt with. The club wants to continue the investigation into the behavior of the ex-sports director surrounding the transfer of Croatian defender Borna Sosa (formerly VfB Stuttgart). This is about a possible conflict of interest.
In the last transfer window, Mislintat bought new players for 109 million euros. The commitments had not yet proven to be reinforcements. On Sunday – Mislintat was not allowed to be in the stadium by order of the Ajax management – Coach Steijn, probably out of displeasure, fielded mostly youth players. Under Mislintat, Ajax earned 156 million euros through player sales. However, critics accuse him of having acquired some unknown players from second European leagues at excessive prices.