Football puts Rotterdam in state of emergency

The police and the city of Rotterdam have announced extremely strict security measures in anticipation of rioting by football fans during the Dutch Cup final between arch rivals Feyenoord Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam. The left-liberal daily De Volkskrant writes that under such conditions it's better to cancel the event: "The costs are provisionally being put at one million euros. But that's assuming there will be no other damages during the state of emergency. ... A million euros is roughly 125 euros per Ajax fan. Football is paid love. ... Are we in Baghdad here? Has anyone seen a 'Green Zone' in Rotterdam? Have we gone totally mad and accepted that football is the same as hatred? ... [The Rotterdam stadium] De Kuip will only be half-full because 'security zones' have been set up: a no man's land between two fronts in a football stadium. We must see this lunacy for what it is and say no to it once and for all. Strike the final from the calendar."

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