Dutch FA to punish firework-throwing Ajax fans

The Dutch football association (KNVB) wants to punish the Ajax fans who disturbed the start of the Dutch Cup final with fireworks Sunday.

After the start of the match between Ajax and PEC Zwolle Ajax, fans threw fireworks into the penalty area of Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer. It happened again after the early opening goal by Ricardo van Rhijn, reports Xinhua.

The smoke shrouded the field, grass was burnt and the players were put in danger of being hit which prompted referee Bas Nijhuis to suspend the match for half an hour. Later, PEC Zwolle stunned Ajax with a 5-1 win.

"This is unacceptable and there is no place for this in a football stadium. The events in the first five minutes were very disappointing. We will work with the clubs and the local authorities thoroughly to evaluate this and will try to track down and punish the perpetrators," said KNVB official Bert van Oostveen Monday.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer was disappointed with his team's performance and with the behaviour of his own fans.

"This is outrageous and has nothing to do with football. A few lunatics behind the goal ruin the night for the rest of the fans. It does not matter whether it hurts an Ajax player or an opponent, this does not belong in a football stadium. It's horrible. They let down their own team and dishonoured Ajax in front of the world," de Boer stated.

The Dutch police arrested 33 people. The arrests were not related to the incidents during the match but for misconduct, violence, insulting police officers, public drunkenness and possession of fireworks.