Ajax Condemns Fireworks at Stadium After Match Gets Abandoned

Ajax condemns supporters for setting off fireworks, causing match to be called off

Terminally ill Ajax fan's last wish to attend match unfulfilled after game abandoned. Ajax's Eredivisie match against Groningen abandoned after fireworks and flares set off in the stands.

The decision to play the match behind closed doors was made after the previous day's abandonment due to fan misconduct...

A heartbreaking situation unfolded as a terminally ill Ajax fan's final wish was denied after Sunday's Eredivisie game against FC Groningen was abandoned due to fan misconduct. The match was halted just six minutes in as Ajax fans set off fireworks and threw torches onto the pitch.

The game was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon and played behind closed doors, leaving thousands of fans, including the terminally ill supporter, devastated. The fan's family expressed their disappointment, saying it's “unbelievably sad” that his last wish was unfulfilled.

“Peter has been a loyal Ajax fan for years. He has always played a lot of football himself and has also been a referee. Unfortunately, due to his illness, he has been in a hospice since September this year and is no longer able to get out of bed. Nevertheless, he still follows football closely,” WensAmbulance said on Facebook.

“Half an hour before kick-off, we were standing in front of the Johan Cruyff ArenA. Accompanied by an Ajax steward, we were shown to a great spot in the stadium. The atmosphere was good at that point; the FC Groningen supporters were singing cheerful songs,” the foundation said about Peter's evening.

“At precisely 8 p.m., the first whistle blew. You could clearly see that Peter and his son were enjoying themselves: watching Ajax play live together one last time - a moment that meant a lot to them.”

Peter and the WensAmbulance Foundation had held on to hope, staying put even after the game was stopped for 40 minutes, but were eventually forced to leave when it was officially abandoned. However, in a heartwarming turn of events, Ajax granted special permission for Peter to attend the rescheduled match as the sole spectator, making his last wish come true after all.

The Eredivisie match between Ajax and FC Groningen was completed on Tuesday, with the game being played out in an empty stadium

The WensAmbulance Foundation announced on Tuesday that Peter's condition had taken a turn for the worse, and he couldn't attend the rescheduled match after all. “When the volunteers arrived at the hospice this afternoon to fulfil Peter's last wish, it turned out that his condition had deteriorated to such an extent that his last wish will never be fulfilled.

The match between Ajax and FC Groningen will resume on Tuesday at 14:30. The game was abandoned on Sunday evening after repeated fireworks were set off, with the score at 0-0.

At the moment play was halted, almost six minutes had been played between Ajax and FC Groningen. The… pic.twitter.com/ByTyUGHUnS

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) November 30, 2025

A volunteer shared their sadness, saying Peter was really looking forward to the game, and it's “very sad that it's been ruined by the fireworks.” They added that first-aiders had given Peter earplugs on Sunday, and he had sensed something was off: “He was really looking forward to this day. So it's just very sad that it's been ruined by the fireworks.”