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A police officer was floored as violence erupted between Brighton and Ajax fans ahead of their Europa League clash on Thursday.
The Dutch giants travelled to the South Coast in the middle of a disastrous campaign in the Eredivise. And ahead of the clash, the two sets of fans could be seen clashing at Brighton train station.
Footage that went viral on social media showed police officers doing their best to calm the two sets of fans, and one of the coppers ends up on the ground as he plays peacemaker. Other officers can be heard yelling "get back" as they try to pick back up fallen barriers that had been separating the sides.
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"Football is special, it's got a family club like Brighton turning into the Warriors," one fan joked. While a second responded: "Where have Brighton all of a sudden pulled this lot from?"
"This is just Brighton station every payday weekend," a third said. And another added: "What happened to the days when you went to the football, enjoyed the game, had a bit of banter and went home again?"
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Ajax arrived in England with a new boss and a chip on their shoulder. The Amsterdam-based side's defeat to FC Utrecht on Sunday left them second from bottom in the Eredivise, and Maurice Steijn was sacked shortly after the result.
And the clash was also marred with crowd trouble. The game was suspended in the 89th minute when a cup was thrown onto the pitch – rules in the Netherlands state that a game is suspended when a foreign object is thrown onto the pitch, and then abandoned if it happens again.
Amazingly, Ajax found themselves in that situation when they played bitter rivals Feyenoord earlier on in the campaign. The game was then restarted three days later, and Ajax were hammered 4-0.
The Dutch sides last win came back on August 12, when they played Heracles Almelo in the Eredivise. They have fared slightly better in Europe, with two draws.
Hedwiges Maduro is in the dugout for Ajax, who desperately need something to cling on to and turn their season around.
- Europa League
- Brighton Hove Albion FC
- Premier League
- Ajax FC
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