AMSTERDAM (AP/97.1 The Ticket) — Police in Amsterdam fired a water cannon at football fans "to put out flares and prevent unsafe situations" and carried out charges on horseback ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Ajax and Juventus.
Local broadcaster AT5 showed images of scores of chanting fans being hosed by the water cannon and responding by tossing fireworks and flares at police before mounted officers charged at them followed by riot police. Police later said they arrested more than 30 people.
Amsterdam war zone !!Ajax fans against the police. pic.twitter.com/Us5cO39wPd
— Stand your ground! (@Ultramaniaticos)
April 10, 2019 Police trying to prevent the traditional Entrada of Ajax-fans prior the CL-match against Juve #ajajuv pic.twitter.com/yYqREdxpxy
— FootballCulture (@pi_alfa)
April 10, 2019 Trouble between Ajax fans and police before the match against Juventus 10/04/2019 pic.twitter.com/XH2imZseve
— 101% ULTRAS (@101ULTRAS)
April 10, 2019 Welcome to Amsterdam Juventus! --The Ajax fans are pumped ------ - IG/ventos pic.twitter.com/wQFv1zMdlY
— FansBet (@FansBet)
April 10, 2019 Earlier Wednesday, police in the Dutch capital arrested a total of 107 Italians suspected of possessing flares, a knife, pepper spray and fireworks.
The night before the match, Ajax fans set off fireworks outside the hotel where the Juventus team was staying, in an attempt to disrupt their sleep. Ajax fans have done this to other teams before.
#Ajax fans unloading and setting off massive fireworks at the hotel where the #Juventus squad is staying. Becoming a bit of a tradition for them after doing the same against Real Madrid. Safe to say this game has officially started -- #ajajuv #AjaxJuve pic.twitter.com/L8y6SsLfkS
— MobileWins (@mobilewins)
April 10, 2019 Once again Ajax fans have lit up fireworks outside the hotel of the opponent the night before our Champions League clash, just like they did vs Real Madrid.This has no class. pic.twitter.com/4VdioNNr0i
— AFC Ajax -- (@TheEuropeanLad)
April 10, 2019 Juventus and Ajax played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the quarterfinal, with the Italian side earning an all-important away goal ahead of the second leg next week.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
