Mayor bans practice match between AA Gent and Ajax for fear of riots

The friendly match that Ajax was to play in Belgium against AA Gent on Saturday 9 July is cancelled. According to the mayor of Ghent, the risk of disturbances is too great, after which it was decided to end the game.

According to the Belgian newspaper The Last Newws the Danish cup winner Midtjylland has been signed as a replacement for Ajax.

“Based on an extensive risk analysis by the security services, we have decided to ban the match,” said Mayor Mathias De Clercq. “The risks were too great, according to them, there was a real chance that the hard core of Ajax would confront Ghent and other football supporters here.”

On Wednesday, the Ajax players will start preparing for the new football season. Eight days later, the first practice match is against SV Meppen. On Saturday 2 July, the national champion will meet SC Paderborn 07.

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