Ajax has fired Sven Mislintat with immediate effect. ‘The lack of broad support within the organization’ is the reason for the decision, the Amsterdammers say. The German was already under a magnifying glass last week due to his role in the transfer of Borna Sosa.
Sosa’s arrival from VfB Stuttgart to Ajax went through a brokerage firm that has shares in a company of which Mislintat owns 35 percent. However, he did not report this to the people of Amsterdam. Ajax therefore decided to first examine this transfer, but an investigation into all his purchases is now underway.
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According to Ajax, firing the German is separate from that investigation. “Various attempts to restore broader support have not led to the desired result and this is leading to unrest in and around the club, also due to the disappointing performances. Sven has made enormous efforts for Ajax in recent months, for which we are grateful. It is now in the club’s interest to find the sporting path back up as quickly as possible with united forces,” says temporary general manager Jan van Halst.
During his period as technical director, Mislintat signed 12 new players for 115 million euros. However, Ajax is in 14th place and dissatisfaction with its performance has increased in recent weeks.
Discontinued Classic
Mislintat’s dismissal follows a few hours after the dramatic Classic against Feyenoord. Ajax was already 0-3 behind in the first half. The match was permanently stopped after fireworks landed on the field for the second time.
In the first half, after the 0-2, things went wrong for the first time, when a cup ended up on the field. The players remained on the field, while the perpetrator was arrested. This meant that play could continue after about eight minutes. It went wrong again a few minutes later. This time fireworks were thrown on the field and the players went to the locker room. After this interruption the match continued, but the atmosphere was far from ideal.
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After half time, with the score 0-3, we had to wait until things would go wrong again. That happened in the 55th minute. Once again torches were thrown onto the field. According to the rules of the KNVB, the match would have been permanently stopped. After consultation with Mayor Halsema and the police, it was decided to permanently strike.
After the match between Ajax and Feyenoord was ended by two fireworks incidents on the field, a grim atmosphere arose in front of the Johan Cruijff Arena. Rioters attacked the main entrance of the Arena and threw fireworks, stones and bottles at officers. After an hour, order was restored by the police and riot police.