Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap Match Called Off
“It is an unacceptable situation that the Vitesse – De Graafschap match cannot go ahead in this way,” the Dutch Football Association said in a statement, adding that supporters making football impossible is completely intolerable.
A Dutch second-tier match between Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap was called off on Sunday after away team supporters blocked their own team’s bus from departing for the game, bbc.com reported.
Fans of De Graafschap gathered outside their stadium in Doetinchem early in the day to prevent the vehicle from leaving. The protest targeted the decision to ban away fans from attending the fixture at Vitesse’s GelreDome stadium after supporters disagreed with security measures.
Vitesse bans away fans following security disagreements
Vitesse announced the ban on Saturday, stating the decision was made based on police information and after extensive consultation with security partners. The club had proposed an away allocation of 500 tickets, cut from the standard 800, contingent on security rules including the inspection of fan paraphernalia before arrival.
Vitesse, the police, and the municipality repeatedly offered De Graafschap various options to meet these conditions over the preceding weeks. However, police information and conversations with De Graafschap indicated that a portion of the supporters insisted on bringing fan paraphernalia in a manner contrary to the agreements made. Vitesse noted the decision followed serious disturbances during the 2025-26 edition of the fixture, which also excluded De Graafschap supporters.
🚨 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧: The KNVB called off the Eerste Divisie match between Vitesse and De Graafschap after De Graafschap fans blocked their own team's bus. ↳ 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗧 De Graafschap supporters chained the stadium gate in Doetinchem, preventing the team from travelling to Arnhem… pic.twitter.com/m9Eu5Eb8mD
Clubs respond to match cancellation and disciplinary referrals
De Graafschap stated they did not recognize the picture painted by the Arnhem press release regarding the commitment and stance of their club and supporters. As a club, they found it unacceptable that their supporters were portrayed in that manner.
The Dutch Football Association referred the matter to disciplinary bodies following the cancellation. Vitesse director Willem van der Linden called the cancellation a major disappointment in a letter posted on the club’s website. De Graafschap stated on social media that they were shocked by the incident and wanted to let the initial emotion subside before providing a further substantive response.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: The match between Vitesse and De Graafschap in the Netherlands has been POSTPONED after angry De Graafschap fans LOCKED the stadium gates with chains to STOP their own team's bus from leaving! ❌ pic.twitter.com/MDafaINxHP
Gelderland Derby Standings and Rescheduling Plans
Vitesse sit 10th in the second-tier standings after the weekend’s fixtures, while De Graafschap, located less than 20 miles to the east of their rivals, sit in 15th. Van der Linden stated that the intention was to hold the game under the same circumstances once rescheduled, though a new date has not yet been announced.
Why was the Vitesse and De Graafschap match cancelled?
Why was the Vitesse Arnhem and De Graafschap match cancelled?
The match was called off because away supporters blocked the De Graafschap team bus from leaving the stadium in Doetinchem. Fans protested a ban on away supporters attending the fixture at the GelreDome.
How many away tickets had Vitesse proposed for the derby?
Vitesse proposed an away fan allocation of 500 tickets, which was cut from the standard 800 allocation. This proposal was conditional on security measures, including the inspection of fan paraphernalia prior to arrival.
What position do the two clubs occupy in the league?
Following the weekend’s fixtures, Vitesse sit 10th in the standings while De Graafschap occupy 15th place.
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