Vitesse vs. De Graafschap Postponed After Fans Block Their Own Team’s Bus, Digi Mart USA News (Arnhem, Netherlands): A second-division match between Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap Doetinchem was called off shortly before kickoff for a highly unusual reason. Traveling De Graafschap supporters blocked a stadium entrance gate, preventing their own team bus from leaving after the game.
Photos shared on social media showed the fans positioning themselves in front of the exit, and they even attached a padlock. Players from both teams were already inside the stadium and preparing for the match when the decision to cancel was made after the situation outside became known.
The fan action came against the backdrop of a derby between two cities only a few kilometers apart. After unrest between the two fan groups at a match last year, it was agreed that De Graafschap could bring no more than five hundred supporters to Arnhem this season, and stricter equipment checks at the entrance were introduced.
Some supporters evidently rejected these measures and used the bus blockade to express their anger over the arrangements. De Graafschap said on X that it was “unpleasantly surprised and shocked by today’s events” and would first let the initial emotions settle and gather a full picture of what happened before issuing a further substantive statement.
The incident has caused considerable stir in the Netherlands. De Telegraaf described it as “a new low point of fan terror in our country.” Football matches in recent months have repeatedly led to trouble, including several injuries after pyrotechnics were used at Feyenoord Rotterdam.
