📸 Ajax release statement as 'scandalous' fireworks force cancellation | OneFootball

Ajax have labelled the overwhelming fireworks display at the Johan Cruijff ArenA "downright scandalous" after scenes forced Sunday's match to be formally abandoned.

The players were on the pitch against Groningen for about five minutes before referee Bas Nijhuis ushered them off due to the wild and unsafe scenes. According to reports, the scenes from the Amsterdam faithful were to show support for a fellow Ajax supporter who recently passed away. 

Videos from inside the stadium showed that parts of the pitch even appeared to catch on fire before the arena filled with smoke.

The delay lasted roughly 45 minutes, during which Nijhuis aired his frustrations. "If you, as a supporter, want to harm your club like that, then you should just keep up this puppet show," he said. Utterly scandalous."

Still, he gave the crowd a second chance and allowed play to resume. Unfortunately for the two clubs and non-affiliated fans, fireworks erupted again after only a few seconds, forcing Nijhuis to cancel the game permanently.

Ajax later released its own statement, reiterating plans to identify those responsible.

"We offer our apologies to anyone who has been harmed by this in any way whatsoever. The safety of spectators and players has been put in danger. That is unacceptable. We explicitly distance ourselves from this misconduct. Fireworks do not belong in the stadium."

Nijhuis also used his moment with the media to urge Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema to investigate ongoing issues involving club supporters, touching on unsafe scenes outside the stadium.

📸 Dean Mouhtaropoulos - 2022 Getty Images