Wild scenes as Groningen vs Ajax abandoned due to smoke bombs in fan protest
Posted by  badge Boss on May 15, 2023 - 12:20PM
Black smoke filled the air in Groningen on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images)

The Eredivisie match between Groningen and on Sunday afternoon was abandoned early in the first half after smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch and supporters stormed the field.

The remarkable scenes saw huge plumes of black smoke in the stands and on the pitch, while one fan managed to get onto the pitch with a banner before being tackled.

Groningen have already been relegated from the Eredivisie after a dreadful season which has seen them win just four of 31 matches so far, picking up 18 points.

They are not actually bottom of the table despite that record, with Cambuur propping up the top flight in Holland, but that does not make things any easier for Groningen’s angry fanbase.

The protest at Euroborg made the match unplayable (Picture: Getty Images)
A Groningen supporter stormed the pitch with a banner protesting how the club has been run (Picture: Getty Images)
Smoke engulfed the stands as well as being thrown onto the pitch (Picture: Getty Images)

Ajax sent a message to their travelling fans who were left disappointed by their Sunday trip to watch their team.

A tweet from the Amsterdam team read: ‘FC Groningen – Ajax has been suspended after 10 minutes of playing due to multiple incidents in which fireworks were thrown onto the pitch.

‘But as always: thank you fans for your unconditional support!’

It is not the first example of terrible behaviour from Groningen fans, with defender Jetro Willems punched by one of his own ‘supporters’ during a clash with heerenveen in March after fans invaded the pitch.

A game against NEC Nijmegen in April was also suspended when a cup of beer was thrown and hit an assistant referee.

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