Johan Cruyff Arena falls silent as Ajax Ultras banned for Sparta Rotterdam clash | OneFootball

It is often said that football is nothing without fans. Tonight, this was put to the test as Ajax welcomed Sparta Rotterdam to the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ajax Ultras, the F-side were banned for one home match in the Eredivisie.

The club agreed to the punishment after the fireworks display by the supporters’ group during the home match against FC Groningen last November.

That match was abandoned after just six minutes and played out a few days later behind closed doors where Ajax eventually ran out 2-0 winners.

However, Ajax attempted to pre-empt the punishment to avoid a ban and subsequently kept the F-side empty during the 2-0 home win against Feyenoord in December.

To some extent, this self-punishment worked.

The prosecutor for professional football took this into account when determining the penalty and Ajax avoided harsher ramifications.

That has led to the strange spectacle tonight, where the lower tier of the F-side is empty in a sold-out stadium as Ajax look to lift themselves to within two points of Feyenoord in second with a win.

However, they have to overcome a Sparta Rotterdam sitting eighth and looking for their first win in six games, cheered on by a raucous away following.

Get Football | Oscar O’Mara