ON THE SIDELINES : Soccer Break Asked in Violence
From Times wire services
AMSTERDAM —
The director of Ajax Amsterdam soccer club has recommended that Dutch professional matches be suspended for half a year because of increasing violence among fans.
Arie van Eijden spoke after 14 spectators were injured by two homemade bombs thrown during Ajax’ match Sunday against its traditional rivals Feyenoord Rotterdam.
“Let’s stop playing football for half a year,” Van Eijden said. “We are paying the price of our own tolerance. It has become more than a soccer problem, but a problem of society.”
