Ajax match abandoned

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16296118.stm

Wednesday's last-16 tie in the Dutch Cup between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar was abandoned after 38 minutes with Ajax leading 1-0 following a pitch invasion by a supporter.

An Ajax fan came onto the pitch and ran towards Alkmaar's Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban.

The goalkeeper kicked the fan in retaliation after being kicked himself - but was given a red card for misconduct.

After he was dismissed, Alkmaar's furious coach Gert Jan Verbeek ordered his team to leave the pitch.

Alkmaar's technical director Earnest Stewart said: "Verbeek ordered the team off the pitch to control the situation and, in the dressing room, our players said they don't feel safe anymore on the pitch."

An Ajax official said that the police arrested a 19-year-old man.

"I saw that Esteban was attacked and that he defended himself," Ajax coach Frank de Boer said.

"I don't know how I would have reacted but I can understand Esteban with his South American temper. I understand the decision of Alkmaar because of all the emotion at that moment."

Alkmaar director Toon Gebrands said that the club would respect any decision taken by the disciplinary board of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) but that the safety of his players was at stake.



I hate it when they send players off for attacking pitch invaders it's just unneccessary

 

It's a joke, he just got assaulted ffs. He deserves to fight back.

 

Stupid to give a red card for that, didn't it happen to one of the lower league players earlier in the season? AZ manager did the right thing to bring the players off though, obviously to do with the red card decision but had the viable excuse of player safety.

 

[video=youtube;NmamIYFN1s8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmamIYFN1s8[/video]

 

Fair play though, cracking atmosphere.

 

That ref is just such an idiot well done to the manager for having the balls to take his players off the pitch, I hope they aren't punished because of it.

 

In the PC world we live in, kicking someone when they're on the floor is considered as an assault regardless of self defence etc etc. But we all live in a world where heat of the moment and red mist take a hold of you and that fan looked like he intended to break the guys leg. Personally I would have retaliated and gone for the face.

 

He should have kicked the ref as well. The ref should be sacked the fan should be locked up and no punishments should be given to the keeper and AZ Alkmaar and the match should be replayed. It's just common sense, unfortunately the ref and the fan had no common sense and they ruined the game.

 

...If you're going to drop kick a keeper, make sure you catch him the first time, because you know players can kick better than you can. Terrible decision by the ref, I don't know what he was thinking?! I don't think he even saw the incident. Good call by the manager taking them off and halting the proceedings, the rest of the match could've been a serious mess.

 

Just me that spent the whole time watching that video looking for Vertonghen after he was linked with us yesterday?

On the incident, terrible decision by the referee, looked like a right prick. Fair play to the manager. Unfortunately, I cannot see the keeper getting away with that because he had a real go at kicking the fan.

 

Bet the dressing room was a class place to be after that match

 

Whereas I have no problem with the keepers reaction (self defence and the supporter fair game to me), you can't really criticise the ref as he is just following the letter of the law. I understand why because you could get into very murky waters with this kind of situation. The rule is there to protect the players from themselves. I just wish the refs didn't have to stick to the rules so rigidly and could judge each situation on its merit.