Seven arrests around Ajax match against Benfica

The police in Amsterdam have arrested seven people around Ajax’s lost match against Benfica in the Champions League. Before the game, there was a violent confrontation between fans of the home team and the mobile unit. Several officers were injured and taken to hospital for treatment, police said.

The police intervened at the end of a large atmospheric campaign on the square next to the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Thousands of fanatical supporters of Ajax had gathered there for a so-called Entrada. They danced, jumped and sang, but also set off heavy fireworks repeatedly. Three years ago for a duel with Juventus, such an Entrade got out of hand when the Amsterdam police deployed water cannons.

This time, according to the police, the mobile unit only came into action when supporters tried to get into the South stands uncontrollably. They would have used violence and threw heavy fireworks and steel pipes at the police, among other things. Officers then felt compelled to use force and used tear gas.

According to the police, it was quiet again around the Johan Cruijff ArenA when the game started at 9 p.m. She is looking for images of the disturbances in order to track down suspects.