Dutch match postponed after fans block team bus

What the report says

A Dutch second-tier league match between Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap was postponed after De Graafschap supporters blocked their own team bus from leaving for the game. BBC Sport reported that the protest was linked to a dispute over Vitesse’s decision to bar away fans from the GelreDome in Arnhem after security conditions for the derby were not met.

According to the BBC’s report, De Graafschap fans gathered outside their stadium in Doetinchem on Sunday morning and prevented the bus from departing. The Dutch Football Association said the fixture would not take place that day and that the case would be passed to its disciplinary process. It described the situation as unacceptable and said fan actions had disrupted football and affected supporters who had planned to attend.

Vitesse said in a Saturday statement that it had excluded away supporters following police advice and after discussions with security partners. The club had proposed a reduced away allocation of 500 tickets, subject to checks on fan materials before entry. De Graafschap said it did not accept Vitesse’s account of the club’s and fans’ position, while Vitesse director Willem van der Linden called the postponement a major disappointment.

A new date for the fixture has not yet been announced. Vitesse said the aim is to stage the game later under the same conditions.