Protest over away-fan ban: Vitesse Arnhem match with Graafschap postponed as fans block team bus
Bus blocked before derby
De Graafschap supporters gathered outside their club’s stadium in Doetinchem early on Sunday and stopped the team bus from setting off, according to Dutch media reports. The match against Vitesse Arnhem was consequently called off.
The fixture was a Dutch second-tier derby. The clubs are based less than 20 miles apart, with Vitesse 10th and De Graafschap 15th after the weekend’s matches.
Dispute over away supporters
Vitesse said it barred away supporters after consulting security partners and reviewing police information. It had offered De Graafschap an allocation of 500 tickets, below the usual 800, if security requirements were met.
One proposed measure required supporters’ paraphernalia to be inspected before fans arrived. Vitesse said discussions with De Graafschap and police indicated some supporters intended to bring such items in ways that breached the agreed terms.
Clubs give different accounts
Vitesse said the decision followed serious disturbances around the 2025-26 fixture, when De Graafschap supporters were also excluded. De Graafschap rejected Vitesse’s portrayal of its club and fans, saying it was unacceptable.
After the postponement, De Graafschap said it was shocked and would wait for emotions to settle before giving a fuller response. Vitesse director Willem van der Linden described the cancellation as a major disappointment and said the club had worked with others to try to stage the game.
Disciplinary review ahead
The Dutch Football Association said the match would not be played on Sunday and that disciplinary bodies would consider the matter. It condemned supporters preventing football from taking place and said their actions harmed their club, team, sport and other fans.
A replacement date has not been announced. Van der Linden said Vitesse intended for the match to be played under the same circumstances.
Key points
- De Graafschap supporters blocked their team bus in protest over the away-fan ban.
- Vitesse cited police information and security disagreements in its decision to exclude visiting fans.
- The Dutch Football Association referred the incident to disciplinary bodies.
- The match has no new date, and Vitesse wants the same circumstances for its rescheduling.