How AZ’s European dream shattered in the most brutal way

The disturbances started around 2pm, when police found that many West Ham fans were not at the place they had been assigned. To prevent hassle in the city, the municipality had set up a fan zone on the Paardenmarkt, where the British could watch undisturbed. NH reporter Edward Dekker noted at 2 p.m. that there were only ten fans there, while many British people could be found in other places in the city.

The police asked the groups to move to the Paardenmarkt. Shortly afterwards, things went wrong near the station. Supporters of AZ, supported by supporters of Cambuur, came to blows with the British of West Ham, supported by supporters of FC Groningen.

After the peace seemed to have returned temporarily, things went wrong again at the station before the start of the game. The police intervened when a group of West Ham supporters arrived by train at Alkmaar CS. No AZ supporters were involved in this.

Riots in the stadium

It’s right after the game finally wrong. There is a fuss in the main stand, which also involves players from both clubs.

AZ supporters of the fanatical supporters behind the goal broke through a fence that separated their stand from the main stand. They immediately sought confrontation with the West Ham supporters and could only be driven back when the Mobile Unit came into action. AZ striker Vangelis Pavlidis was also among the fighting supporters.

Last week in London it also went wrong in the stands. Then guests from AZ, including the family of trainer Pascal Jansen, had to be evacuated from the stands after a threatening situation arose from supporters of West Ham.

Injured, but no arrests

There have been injuries in the disturbances after the game, but it is not yet clear how many there are exactly. There will be more information about that later today. Police said this morning that no arrests have been made.