ARNHEM (Azat TV) – The high-stakes Eerste Divisie football derby between Vitesse and visiting De Graafschap was officially called off on Sunday after De Graafschap supporters physically blocked their own team’s team bus from leaving the stadium car park. The fixture, which was scheduled to kick off at 12:15 p.m. local time at the GelreDome in Arnhem, Netherlands, had to be abandoned before kickoff while thousands of home supporters were already seated inside the stadium.
The extraordinary disruption stems from mounting tensions over security restrictions imposed on away supporters. According to reporting by Flashscore, Arnhem mayor Ahmed Marcouch and local authorities intervened on Saturday evening to ban away fans entirely from the second-tier clash, citing safety concerns and non-compliance with matchday protocols following misbehavior during previous meetings between the two regional rivals.
Escalation and Bus Blockade
Initial plans for Sunday’s match had already seen De Graafschap’s ticket allocation reduced from 800 down to 500 seats under strict conditions. Among the requirements was a mandatory inspection of tifo materials before supporters arrived at the venue. However, discussions between police and club management revealed that a faction of supporters was determined to bring in materials outside of the agreed terms.
With the club unable to guarantee compliance, authorities instituted a total ban on away fans on Saturday night. In response, a large group of De Graafschap supporters gathered at the Stadion De Vijverberg in Doetinchem, located roughly 30 minutes from Arnhem. The fans blocked the team bus from departing and secured the stadium exit gates with chain locks, preventing the squad from traveling to the venue.
Official Condemnation and Disciplinary Action
As kickoff approached and it became clear the squad would not arrive, the Royal Dutch Football Association (ESPN) announced the cancellation of the match. Jan Bluyssen, the Dutch FA’s manager of competition affairs, condemned the supporters’ actions in strong terms, calling the situation unprecedented and unacceptable.
“This is truly unacceptable. This really isn’t possible. I have never experienced anything like this, and we never want to experience it again,” Bluyssen told ESPN. “People can disagree with something, and everyone can express their opinion. But this is really not the right way.”
Vitesse CEO Willem van der Linden described the cancellation as a massive disappointment for the thousands of fans who packed the stadium for the Gelderland derby. Both clubs and governing bodies confirmed that the matter has been referred to disciplinary authorities. The KNVB announced that the rearranged fixture is expected to take place on a working day before the end of the calendar year, and officials confirmed that the rescheduled match will be played under the identical restriction of permitting only home supporters.