Arnhem mayor tells football supporters to leave public order to police

Arnhem mayor Ahmed Marcouch has urged football supporters to leave the response to possible disorder to police, after supporters in several Dutch cities called for people to take to the streets as self-appointed neighbourhood guards.

The calls came after appeals for unrest under the banner of a “Gen Z protest”. Vitesse’s hard-core supporters called for the “protection” of Arnhem; supporters of ADO Den Haag and MVV made similar appeals in their cities.

Marcouch said he understood residents’ concern for their city and their wish to help keep it safe. But maintaining public order is the responsibility of police and other authorised agencies, he said. People worried about possible trouble should report it to police rather than intervene themselves.

Arnhem deployed extra supervision and visible enforcement on Saturday. Marcouch said taking the law into one’s own hands had no place in a state governed by the rule of law.