De Graafschap fans stop team bus: match against Vitesse may be postponed

De Graafschap's team bus has yet to leave for Arnhem. The club's supporters are blocking it, angry that away fans won't be allowed into the Gelredome on Sunday afternoon, ESPN reports.

After serious disturbances around last year's meeting between the two sides, De Graafschap were limited to a maximum of 500 away fans for the next meeting, this weekend's match, instead of the usual 800.

The decision came with a number of "explicit safety conditions". Any fan display materials had to be available for inspection before the supporters arrived.

On Saturday evening, however, Vitesse said police information and talks with De Graafschap had shown that some supporters refused to comply. They reportedly insisted on bringing fan display materials in a way that breached the agreements reached.

Fearing further disturbances, the tripartite authorities considered it unsafe to admit away supporters. "The local authorities fear a possibly serious disturbance of public order and safety, both around the stadium and inside it," Vitesse wrote.

Ahmed Marcouch, the mayor of Arnhem, explained: "Football belongs to everyone. But hospitality is not a licence to flout safety agreements. Over the past few weeks, we have given De Graafschap every opportunity, as well as the time and means, to ensure this match could take place safely with away supporters."

"Another attempt was made on Saturday to reach workable agreements. But if supporters say beforehand that they do not want to abide by the conditions, and their own club cannot guarantee that the agreements will be followed, then that is the end of it."

With an hour to go before kick-off, De Graafschap's team bus has still not left for Arnhem. The match starts at 12:15.