Riot police had to disperse groups of ADO Den Haag fans after their club missed out on promotion to the Eredivsie in a dramatic play-off final on Sunday evening.

Police said most supporters left the Cars Jeans Stadium without causing trouble after the defeat on penalties to Excelsior, but a hard core pelted them with stones, fireworks, and ripped-up paving slabs in confrontations outside the stadium.

Several people were injured, including four police officers, and an unspecified number of people were arrested at the stadium in The Hague.

The violence began inside the stadium at the end of a match in which ADO looked to be coasting to victory, only to let a 3-0 lead slip in the last 12 minutes after their midfielder Tyrese Asante was sent off.

ADO regained the lead in extra time, but Excelsior’s captain Redouan el Yaakoubi scored an equaliser before the Rotterdam club prevailed 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out.

Het is weer rustig rond het #carsjeansstadion waar #ADO niet promoveerde naar de eredivisie. Er wordt opgeruimd. ⁦@omroepwest⁩ pic.twitter.com/kVpvsupW1c

— Frank van Deutekom (@frank_deut) May 29, 2022

Excelsior’s players had to flee the pitch as ADO’s hooligans hurled fireworks at opposing fans and ran onto the field to vent their anger.

Jan Struijs, chair of the police union NPB, told Goedemorgen Nederland: ‘The police outside the stadium literally had to fight for their lives to keep themselves and other people safe. They were struck with heavy stones, fireworks, fences and all sorts of objects.’

Police said order was restored around midnight and appealed for witnesses to hand in video footage.