Aston Villa Fans Allegedly Assaulted by Ajax Hooligans in Amsterdam
In a shocking incident, footage has emerged showing Aston Villa fans being attacked by Ajax hooligans at a train station in Amsterdam. The incident reportedly took place ahead of the Europa Conference League match between the two teams on Thursday night.
The distressing footage shows one fan struggling to stand up after seemingly being knocked to the ground. A group of men can then be seen swarming another Villa supporter and throwing punches. The violence escalates as the hooligans knock the second fan to the ground and begin kicking him mercilessly. Even after the defenseless fan falls to the ground, the assault continues, with one of the hooligans throwing a flying punch at the fan who had just managed to find his feet.
Unfortunately, the footage ends abruptly, and it is currently unclear what transpired afterwards. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of football hooliganism, with Ajax fans being involved in similar acts of violence in the past.
This is not the first time Ajax hooligans have wreaked havoc ahead of a game. In June 2019, four Ajax thugs were jailed for attacking police officers before a Champions League semi-final match against Tottenham Hotspur. The violent rampage, caught on CCTV, left one fan with “life-threatening” injuries. As a result, the four Dutchmen were not only imprisoned but also banned from every UK football ground for six years.
In another incident in September 2023, riot police faced multiple explosions as they tried to disperse clashing Ajax and Marseille fans before their Europa League tie. The police became the target of violence as they attempted to separate the two groups. They even had to dodge an explosion, believed to be a firework, near a van they had used as a barrier.
More recently, in October, police had to brandish batons to control violent scenes following a Europa League match between Brighton and Ajax. Video footage showed supporters throwing objects over a barrier, forcing the officers to take action. One officer ended up on the ground after being pushed over.
To address the problem of hooliganism, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) introduced new rules last year. Stadium bans and game suspensions have become part of their strategy. However, despite these measures, football experts argue that a sense of anarchy still persists and stricter measures are needed to curb hooliganism.
The recent attack on Aston Villa fans by Ajax hooligans is another distressing reminder of the ongoing issue of violence in football. It is crucial for authorities and clubs to work together to ensure the safety of fans, both at home and away matches. Only by taking more stringent measures can we hope to eradicate hooliganism from the beautiful game.