Police in the Croatian city of Split arrested 57 people overnight after a confrontation between supporters of Ajax and Hajduk Split, NOS reports. The arrests came hours before the two clubs were due to meet in the Conference League that evening.
What happened
According to NOS, which cites Croatian media, police stepped in to stop hundreds of rioters from fighting each other in Split’s city centre. The groups involved were about 200 Ajax supporters and 300 members of Torcida Split, the name given to Hajduk Split’s hardcore fans.
About 100 officers were on duty when the trouble started, and reinforcements arrived quickly. Police said calm returned after fifteen minutes and nobody was injured. NOS notes that it is not clear whether any Dutch fans were among the 57 people arrested.
This was not the first trouble before the match. NOS reports that the city had been tense for days, with more than 150 fans arrested over two nights in total. On the evening before the latest clash, police detained eighteen Ajax supporters. Croatian media reported that this group was allegedly carrying weapons.
The head of the local police, Srdarević, said there had been five incidents so far. Four of them were confrontations between supporters of the two clubs, and Dutch people suffered minor injuries in two of those. A criminal investigation is under way into those responsible.
The police chief told NOS that the force had expected a difficult operation: “We were aware that this would be a major challenge, given the large number of fans of both clubs, particularly those who misbehave.”
Extra policing on match day
NOS reports that police had been preparing for incidents around the fixture from the Tuesday before the match through to the evening after it. On match day, 600 officers were due to be deployed across the city, at the stadium and in the surrounding area, with other police forces providing support.
Police in Split were also given extra powers for the day. They were allowed to hold people who misbehave for two hours, which is normally not permitted but is allowed on match days. The city was expecting 1,900 supporters from the Netherlands, and tickets for away fans had sold out.
Why it matters if you live in the Netherlands
Ajax is one of the best-known clubs in the Netherlands, and many internationals follow the club or have colleagues, friends or children who support it. A European away match draws a large travelling crowd, and the figures in the NOS report show how big this trip was.
- A large Dutch presence abroad. Split expected 1,900 supporters from the Netherlands. Anyone travelling with that group, or with friends or family in it, should know about the tension in the city before and around the match.
- Dutch people have been hurt. Police said Dutch people suffered minor injuries in two of the four confrontations between supporters. In the latest clash, police said nobody was injured.
- Arrests are still being clarified. NOS says it is not clear whether Dutch fans were among the 57 people held overnight. Eighteen Ajax supporters had already been arrested the evening before.
- Different rules on match day. Croatian police could hold people who misbehave for two hours on match day, a power they do not normally have. Visitors should be aware that local rules can differ from what they are used to in the Netherlands.
- No away tickets left. Tickets for away supporters were sold out, according to NOS, so fans without a ticket could not get into the away section.
For fans in the Netherlands who are not travelling, the main point is that the build-up to this tie was overshadowed by trouble off the pitch. NOS does not say where the match can be watched.
What to watch next
Several questions remain open after the NOS report. The most immediate is whether any of those arrested overnight are Dutch nationals, which NOS says was not clear when it published. Any update is likely to come from Croatian police or Dutch media.
The criminal investigation into the people behind the earlier incidents is also continuing. Its outcome will show how many of the more than 150 people arrested over two nights face further action, and whether the eighteen Ajax supporters reportedly carrying weapons are charged.
Police said their extra operation would run until the evening after the match, so the period after the final whistle, when travelling fans leave the stadium and the city, is still part of the security operation. With 600 officers deployed on match day and other forces helping, police in Split clearly expected the pressure to continue.
Finally, there is the football itself. The result in the Conference League will matter to Ajax supporters at home, but this tie will also be remembered for what happened in Split’s streets before kick-off. NOS does not report any response from either club or from the competition’s organisers.
Source: NOS Voetbal
Sources
- NOS Voetbal: 57 mensen aangehouden in Kroatië bij confrontatie tussen Ajax en Hajduk Split-fans, accessed 16 October 2026
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