Ajax football club staff and members of the board have for years been threatened and intimidated by a group of hardcore supporters, the Volkskrant reports on Thursday.

At least two people have been threatened in the last two months but are too afraid to report the incident to the police, the Volkskrant states.

The police are aware of the ‘structural atmosphere of fear and intimidation’, the paper says. ‘But without the cooperation of those involved, we can do little,’ a police spokesman is quoted as saying.

No stadium ban

There have been two police reports made in the past 15 years. One involved former director Arie van Eijden in 2005 and the second former director Martin Sturkenboom in 2012. One man was fined €250 for the second incident but the perpetrator was not banned from the stadium.

The Volkskrant says it has spoken to nine former board members, four former members of staff and three people who are still active at the club. All wish to remain anonymous and all make it clear that intimidation and threats are structural, the paper says.

In a written reaction, the club said it did not recognise the claims. None of the current directors has been threatened and the club is not aware of any other recent threats, the statement said. ‘We have regular discussions with supporters’ representatives and see no reason to stop this,’ the club said.