Football hooligans, don’t you just love them? Their team scrapes to victory in the Dutch cup and what do they do? Go on the rampage in the city centre, throw rocks at the police and smash shop windows. What a novel way to celebrate. Even the rain could not dampen their enthusiasm.

The problem is that Ajax’s resident hooligans seem to do the same every year. OK, this year was not too bad. In previous riots – sorry, celebrations – there have been more arrests and more damage.
It costs the council some €100,000 of taxpayers’ money to organise the celebration – sorry, riot. Then the taxpayers get to foot the bill for cleaning up the mess as well. And don’t Not forget the café and bar owners whose premises are smashed up and local residents who have to run the gauntlet of riot police on their way home.
Not to mention everyone else who is inconvenienced by the moronic hoards. This year, the US consulate in Amsterdam apparently even issued a warning to its nationals to avoid the Museumplein last night because of the risk of riots.
No wonder Amsterdam’s mayor Job Cohen is thinking about a ban on any public celebrations should Ajax manage to win something next season. He must be hoping they don’t. He isn’t the only one.