De Graafschap fans block own team’s bus, forcing Dutch derby off
The Dutch second-tier derby between Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap was called off on Sunday after away fans stopped their own team's bus from leaving. They were protesting a ban on away supporters at the game.
De Graafschap fans gathered outside their club's stadium in Doetinchem early on Sunday and blocked the team bus, Dutch media reported, according to BBC Sport. The bus never left for the game at Vitesse's GelreDome stadium. The Dutch Football Association then called off the match and referred the matter to its disciplinary bodies. The fans were angry about a decision to bar away supporters from the derby. In a statement on Saturday, Vitesse said it had made the call "based on police information and after extensive consultation with all involved security partners." The club had proposed 500 away places, down from the standard 800. The offer came with conditions, including checks on fan paraphernalia before supporters arrived. Vitesse said the club, the police and the municipality had offered De Graafschap several options in recent weeks. But it said some supporters insisted on bringing paraphernalia in a way that broke the agreements. Vitesse also pointed to "serious disturbances" around the 2025-26 edition of the…
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