In a poignant and exclusive gesture, a terminally ill supporter will be the solitary fan in attendance when AFC Ajax completes its abandoned Eredivisie match against FC Groningen on Tuesday afternoon.
A Final Wish Granted Amid Disappointment
The fan, named Peter, is receiving care in a hospice and had expressed a final wish to watch his beloved Ajax play one last time. Arrangements were made for him to attend the original fixture on Sunday, but immense disappointment followed when the match was abandoned just five minutes after kick-off. The stoppage was caused by a massive pyrotechnic display from a section of the crowd, which led to the referee halting proceedings for safety reasons.
An attempt to restart the game 40 minutes later was also thwarted by further fireworks, forcing the league to reschedule the remainder for Tuesday. Although the match is officially mandated to be played behind closed doors as a consequence, Ajax made a special exception for Peter, allowing him to fulfil his heartfelt wish from the stands.
Charity Facilitates Emotional Outing
André, a staff member from the charity WensenAmbulance Noord-Holland, which helps fulfil final wishes for the seriously ill, explained Peter's deep connection to the game. "Peter has played football all his life, has also been a referee, and follows Ajax closely," he told RTL News. "Football is his whole life, so [the hospice] wanted to let him go to one last match."
André, who accompanied Peter along with Peter's adult son, described the initial optimism that turned to frustration. "When we arrived at the stadium, we were given excellent guidance by the stewards. We got a great spot behind the goal," he recounted. "Peter was very disappointed [by the abandonment]. This is, of course, incredibly frustrating."
Social Media Campaign and Official Fallout
Following Sunday's events, a wave of social media posts highlighted Peter's situation and urged the club to grant him access to the rescheduled game. The charity later confirmed that Ajax had agreed, ensuring Peter will witness the clash between sixth-placed Ajax and seventh-placed Groningen.
The abandonment prompted a strong rebuke from Ajax, with the club stating it "emphatically distance[d] ourselves from this misconduct" and labelled the behaviour "utterly outrageous." The pyrotechnics are believed to have been set off by supporters commemorating a deceased fan. The Eredivisie has announced it will conduct a full investigation into the incidents that led to the game being called off.
