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Morrocan Othmane El Goumri Wins Sydney Marathon; Betsy Saina Claims Tight Women’s Race

Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
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Morrocan Othmane El Goumri Wins Sydney Marathon; Betsy Saina Claims Tight Women’s Race

Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)

Moroccan Othmane El Goumri and Kenyan-born American Betsy Saina have won the men's and women's races at an unseasonably warm Sydney Marathon on Sunday.

The 31-year-old El Goumri finished the hilly 42m kilometer (26-mile) course around prominent Sydney landmarks in 2:08:20 to win his first marathon title since winning the Dublin Marathon in 2019.

Kenya's Laban Kipngetich Korir was second in a time of 2:08:43, with Ethiopian Getaneh Molla Tamire a further minute and a half behind in third.

Saina, who attended Iowa State University and now represents the United States, finished in 2:26:47 and held off a late challenge from Ethiopian Rahma Tusa Chota to win the women's race by six seconds. Gladys Chesir Kiptagelai of Kenya was third in a time of 2:28:41.

Canada's Joshua Cassidy won the men's wheelchair event, with Australia's Madison de Rozario winning the women's race.

The Sydney Marathon is in the second year of a three-year candidacy in its attempt to become the seventh World Marathon Major, alongside races in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo and Berlin.

This year saw more than an Australian record 17,000 participants register for the event which takes in some of the city's most famous landmarks including crossing the Sydney Harbor Bridge and finishing at the Sydney Opera House.

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Sports

Saudi Minister of Sports Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart, IOC Vice President 

Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Sports Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart, IOC Vice President 

Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz held talks in Hangzhou on Monday with China’s Minister of Sports, Chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games Gao Zhidan.

The officials discussed issues related to the 19th Asian Games Huangzhou 2022 that are underway and ways to boost cooperation to serve athletes and youth in their countries.

Prince Abdulaziz is heading the Saudi delegation participating in the Asian Games.

The talks were attended by Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, and other officials.

Prince Abdulaziz also held talks with Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ng Ser Miang.

They tackled the latest developments in international sports and the upcoming Olympic Games, in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.

Later in the evening, Prince Abdulaziz crowned the winners of the 200m freestyle relay race at the Asian Games.

Sports

Man United Starts League Cup Defense. Barcelona Visits Mallorca 

Football - Premier League - Burnley v Manchester United - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - September 23, 2023 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Burnley v Manchester United - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - September 23, 2023 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts. (Reuters)
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Man United Starts League Cup Defense. Barcelona Visits Mallorca 

Football - Premier League - Burnley v Manchester United - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - September 23, 2023 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Burnley v Manchester United - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - September 23, 2023 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts. (Reuters)

A look at what’s happening in European football on Tuesday:

ENGLAND

Defending champion Manchester United looks to avoid another early-season setback when it hosts Crystal Palace in the third round of the League Cup. It’s the only all-Premier League clash among Tuesday’s games, with Wolverhampton visiting Ipswich and Burnley traveling to League Two side Salford City.

United also faces Palace at home in the league on Saturday, and manager Erik ten Hag will have to decide how heavily to rotate for a competition that provided him with his first title at the club last season. United is already nine points behind Premier League leader Manchester City, and the League Cup may be Ten Hag’s best chance for silverware again.

SPAIN

Barcelona visits Mallorca looking to extend its winning streak in the Spanish league to six matches. The defending champion sits at the top of the standings with 16 points, tied with fellow Catalan club Girona, which visits Villarreal on Wednesday. Mallorca has only one win and sits near the relegation zone. Sevilla, behind Mallorca in the table and also with only one win, hosts last-place Almeria, the only team yet to win a league game this season.

ITALY

Juventus aims to bounce back from its first defeat of the season with a win over visiting Lecce, which is the only side still undefeated after five games of the Italian league along with Inter Milan. Three glaring errors ensured Juventus slumped to a 4-2 defeat at struggling Sassuolo on Saturday, while Lecce moved a point ahead of the “Old Lady” in Serie A with a 1-0 win at home over Genoa the day before.

GERMANY

After hammering Bochum 7-0 in the Bundesliga at the weekend, Bayern Munich begins its German Cup campaign with a visit to third-division team Preussen Münster. Bayern is bidding to reach the final for the first time since 2020. “It’s clear that we’re the favorite, we’ve nothing to gain,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said Monday. “The opponent has nothing to lose and it’s the typical cup constellation. Still, we’re obligated to win. We want to get to Berlin, we want to be in the final.”

Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt is out after taking a blow to his knee, but Raphaël Guerreiro could make his first Bayern appearance since switching from Borussia Dortmund in the offseason. Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is also set to make his Bayern debut.

Sports

Injured de Jong Out Until International Break, Says Barca’s Xavi 

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Celta Vigo - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - September 23, 2023 FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Celta Vigo - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - September 23, 2023 FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
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Injured de Jong Out Until International Break, Says Barca’s Xavi 

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Celta Vigo - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - September 23, 2023 FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Celta Vigo - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - September 23, 2023 FC Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong reacts after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong will not return to action until after the next international break at the earliest after picking up an ankle injury at the weekend, manager Xavi said.

The 26-year-old Netherlands midfielder had played every minute of Barcelona's LaLiga matches so far this season before being substituted in the first half against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

"He'll be a significant absence for us," Xavi told reporters on Monday. "Frenkie is fundamental to how we play, especially given the great form he was in.

"About the timeframe of his injury, it's going to depend on him really but we will have to assess how he's feeling after the next international break (in October)."

Barcelona visit Real Mallorca later on Tuesday, followed by a home game against Sevilla and a Champions League group stage away fixture against Porto on Oct. 4. They visit Granada in the league on Oct. 8 before the break.

Xavi said he will have to rotate his squad for upcoming matches, with midfielder Pedri also nursing a thigh injury.

"We will rotate not just for the Champions League, but also for the next LaLiga game," he added. "There will be an average of two or three players rotating every game, that's how we understand we have to prevent injuries."

Sports

Croatian Teen Vuskovic to Join Tottenham in 2025

Tottenham's players are applauded by their fans after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. The game finished 2-2. (AFP)
Tottenham's players are applauded by their fans after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. The game finished 2-2. (AFP)
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Croatian Teen Vuskovic to Join Tottenham in 2025

Tottenham's players are applauded by their fans after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. The game finished 2-2. (AFP)
Tottenham's players are applauded by their fans after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. The game finished 2-2. (AFP)

Tottenham Hotspur said they have reached an agreement to sign defender Luka Vuskovic from Croatia's Hajduk Split, with the 16-year-old to join the Premier League club in 2025.

Vuskovic will join Spurs on a contract running until 2030, the club said on Monday. British media reported the deal was worth around 12 million pounds ($14.64 million).

Under FIFA rules, Vuskovic must wait until he is 18 before he can arrive in England.

The center back has played 11 times for Hajduk Split since making his senior debut in February, becoming the youngest player to feature in the Croatian top flight at 16 years and two days old.

Vuskovic also has five caps for Croatia's under-17 team.

Sports

African Players in Europe: Salah Joins Exclusive Group

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's opening goal from a penalty kick during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's opening goal from a penalty kick during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP)
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African Players in Europe: Salah Joins Exclusive Group

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's opening goal from a penalty kick during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's opening goal from a penalty kick during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP)

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah joined an exclusive group when he opened the scoring in a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United at the weekend.

He became only the fifth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team's first six league games of a season after David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland.

Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

His fourth goal this season sparked second-placed Liverpool to a 3-1 win over West Ham at Anfield. Salah converted a 16th-minute penalty after he was brought down by Morocco international Nayef Aguerd.

ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (Everton)

The Mali midfielder's superb strike helped Everton win in the league for the first time this season and climb out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 victory at Brentford. Doucoure struck after just six minutes with a half-volley.

SPAIN

INAKI WILLIAMS (Athletic Bilbao)

The Ghana international broke the deadlock in Athletic's 2-0 La Liga win over Alaves after 18 minutes when he was sent through on goal, after a clever run in behind the defense. The striker missed a fine chance to double his tally when he slashed an effort off-target with his left foot when well placed.

GERMANY

ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING (Bayern Munich)

Choupo-Moting opened the scoring after just four minutes in Bayern's 7-0 Bundesliga rout of lowly Bochum. The Cameroon international tapped in for his first goal of the season in his first league start.

VICTOR BONIFACE (Bayer Leverkusen)

Boniface continued his blistering start with Leverkusen, scoring another brace in a 4-1 win over promoted Heidenheim. The Nigerian smashed the ball home to give Bayer an early lead and netted from a second-half penalty.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Stuttgart)

Guirassy was another African to score twice, as Stuttgart defeated Darmstadt 3-1. The Guinea international struck with a shot and a dink to raise his season total to 10 goals from five matches.

FRANCE

JEREMIE BOGA (Nice)

The France-born Ivory Coast international winger came off the bench to score a stoppage-time Ligue 1 winner for Nice as they beat local rivals Monaco 1-0 away after Folarin Balogun had two penalties saved for the home team. It was the 26-year-old's first goal since a big-money move from Atalanta in the close season.

STEVE MOUNIE (Brest)

The Benin international forward came off the bench to head a late winner as Brest beat struggling Lyon 1-0. The result left the unheralded club from Brittany on top of the table, a point clear of Nice and two ahead of both Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

MORGAN GUILAVOGUI (Lens)

Guinea international Guilavogui was another player to star off the bench as he came on as a substitute and grabbed a late winner for Lens against Toulouse. Last season's runners-up came from behind to win 2-1 and claim their first victory of the campaign.

Sports

R&B Star Usher to Headline 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show

FILE PHOTO: Usher poses at the Met Gala in New York City, New York, US, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Usher poses at the Met Gala in New York City, New York, US, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
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R&B Star Usher to Headline 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show

FILE PHOTO: Usher poses at the Met Gala in New York City, New York, US, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Usher poses at the Met Gala in New York City, New York, US, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

Grammy-winning artist Usher will headline the halftime show at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Football League (NFL), Apple Music and label Roc Nation announced on Sunday.

The 58th Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, 2024.

"It's an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list," Usher said in the statement. "I can't wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they've seen from me before."

Since the release of his debut album in 1994, Usher Raymond IV has sold over 80 million records worldwide, climbing atop music charts and bringing home eight Grammy awards, considered by many to be the most prestigious awards in the music industry.

Billboard magazine crowned him the second most successful artist of the 2000s.

"U Got It Bad," "OMG," and "Yeah!" are among the 44-year-old singer's chart-topping hits. Usher is currently performing in Las Vegas as part of his residency show "Usher: My Way."

"Usher is an icon whose music has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape throughout his career," NFL Head of Music Seth Dudowsky said in the news release announcing the decision.

Last year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, headlined by R&B star Rihanna, was the most-watched halftime performance of all time, organizers said.

Iconic artists including the Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Bruce Springsteen have taken the Super Bowl stage over the years.

Sports

Al Ahly's El Shahat Puts Ethiopian Saints to The Sword

File: Al-Ahly fans celebrate as they display a shirt with the name of former player Mohamed Abo Treika after their team won the CAF Champions League match against Wydad Casablanca in Cairo's Mokattam district, Egypt June 11, 2023. (Reuters)
File: Al-Ahly fans celebrate as they display a shirt with the name of former player Mohamed Abo Treika after their team won the CAF Champions League match against Wydad Casablanca in Cairo's Mokattam district, Egypt June 11, 2023. (Reuters)
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Al Ahly's El Shahat Puts Ethiopian Saints to The Sword

File: Al-Ahly fans celebrate as they display a shirt with the name of former player Mohamed Abo Treika after their team won the CAF Champions League match against Wydad Casablanca in Cairo's Mokattam district, Egypt June 11, 2023. (Reuters)
File: Al-Ahly fans celebrate as they display a shirt with the name of former player Mohamed Abo Treika after their team won the CAF Champions League match against Wydad Casablanca in Cairo's Mokattam district, Egypt June 11, 2023. (Reuters)

Hussein el Shahat scored twice as Al Ahly of Egypt began their CAF Champions League title defense with a predictable 3-0 qualifying win over Saint George of Ethiopia on Sunday.

El Shahat, popularly known as the Ninja, struck in each half in Cairo before being substituted in the last-32 first-leg clash.

Ahmed Abdelkader, one of many substitutes introduced in the second half by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, completed the scoring in added time.

Saint George, regular but largely unsuccessful African campaigners, were forced to cede home advantage because they do not have an international-standard stadium, AFP reported.

The return match will be played on Friday at the same venue with record 11-time African champions Ahly virtually assured of a ninth straight appearance in the group stage.

From 2016, the Cairo Red Devils have won the competition three times, been runners-up three times, quarter-finalists once and failed to get beyond the group phase once.

Victory over Saint George came one week after a shock 1-0 loss to USM Alger of Algeria in Saudi Arabia in the CAF Super Cup.

Ahly coasted to victory despite lacking new signing Anthony Modeste, who is ineligible for the last-32 round, and suspended Moroccan Reda Slim.

The winners of 24 African titles across four competitions also missed defender Mahmoud Metwally and midfielder Amr el Sulaya due to injuries.

Koller chose three non-Egyptian starters -- Tunisian defender Ali Maaloul, Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng and South African forward Percy Tau.

Sports

Team World Beats Team Europe to Claim Back-to-back Laver Cup Titles

Team World's Taylor Fritz, fourth from left, and Ben Shelton, fifth from left, hoist the Laver Cup in front of teammates, John McEnroe, left, and Rod Laver, second from left, after Team World defeated Team Europe at the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team World's Taylor Fritz, fourth from left, and Ben Shelton, fifth from left, hoist the Laver Cup in front of teammates, John McEnroe, left, and Rod Laver, second from left, after Team World defeated Team Europe at the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Team World Beats Team Europe to Claim Back-to-back Laver Cup Titles

Team World's Taylor Fritz, fourth from left, and Ben Shelton, fifth from left, hoist the Laver Cup in front of teammates, John McEnroe, left, and Rod Laver, second from left, after Team World defeated Team Europe at the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team World's Taylor Fritz, fourth from left, and Ben Shelton, fifth from left, hoist the Laver Cup in front of teammates, John McEnroe, left, and Rod Laver, second from left, after Team World defeated Team Europe at the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

For the very first time, Team World successfully defended its Laver Cup title.
Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe beat Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7) to help Team World hit the 13-point mark needed to defeat Team Europe.
“It felt unbelievable,” said Team World captain John McEnroe, who added how Team Europe had beaten Team World numerous times.
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was also a member of Team World last year, said the repeat victory was even more special with it taking place on Canadian soil.
“To win is the best feeling and it’s nice to come back after London and to do it in Vancouver,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.
Auger-Aliassime said he looks forward to having an opportunity to play as part of a team.
“Every time I play for a team, I feel really good,” he said. “The tour can, playing singles all the time, get lonely I guess. To have teammates and win as a team, for me it’s really special.”
Team World’s 2022 victory marked Swiss star Roger Federer’s last professional appearance before retiring.
Canadian Milos Raonic was attending the tournament as an alternate for Team World in case of injury, and took part in a doubles match after the cup presentation.
He was paired with Chris Eubanks as the pair took on Arthur Fils and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“Milos is a guy who changed the way Canadians looked at our game of tennis,” McEnroe said of Raonic’s legacy.
Team World took a 10-2 lead in the tournament Saturday to put itself in the driver’s seat.
The opening doubles match Sunday featured several sustained rallies, with Shelton hitting a behind-the-back shot during the second game.
Both sets went to tiebreakers, with Team Europe pushing to stay in the hunt for its second win of the three-day tournament.
But it wasn’t meant to be as Hurkacz missed a drop shot, allowing Team World to clinch the win.
The match was a tight affair, with Team World just edging out their European counterparts 80 to 76 on points.
“We gave 100%. Team World played unbelievable tennis every single match,” said Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg. “Of course we’re very disappointed. We didn’t expect to lose by this much, but what can you say? They played good tennis.”

Sports

Saudi National Teams Continue Participation in 19th Asian Games in China

Saudi Arabia is set to face the Indian national team in the upcoming qualifying round next Thursday.
Saudi Arabia is set to face the Indian national team in the upcoming qualifying round next Thursday.
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Saudi National Teams Continue Participation in 19th Asian Games in China

Saudi Arabia is set to face the Indian national team in the upcoming qualifying round next Thursday.
Saudi Arabia is set to face the Indian national team in the upcoming qualifying round next Thursday.

The Saudi national football and tennis teams continue their active participation in the 19th Asian Games, scheduled to continue until October 8th in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
The Saudi under-23 football team secured a place in the second round by finishing as the runner-up in Group II with seven points. This followed their 3-1 victory over the Vietnamese team in a match held at Linpeng Sports Center Stadium in Huzhou, China, on Sunday evening, SPA reported.
Mohammed Al-Yami found the net for the Saudi team in the 43rd minute, followed by Mohammed Maran in the 87th minute, and Zakaria Hawsawi in the 90th minute.
Accordingly, Saudi Arabia is set to face the Indian national team in the upcoming qualifying round next Thursday.
On the tennis front, Saudi player Ammar Al-Haqbani advanced to the men's singles 32nd round of the competition by defeating his Qatari opponent Rashid Nayef with a score of two sets to love in the round of 64.
Also, Ammar is set to compete against China's Zhizhen Zhang, who is Asia's top-ranked tennis player and currently ranked 60th in the world, on Monday morning at 11 o'clock in the round of 32.

Sports

Dutch Police Use Tear Gas to Disperse Rioters after Ajax v Feyenoord Suspended

Supporters protect themselves as police uses tear gas to disperse supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord was ended following fireworks thrown on the field at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24, 2023. (Photo by Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Supporters protect themselves as police uses tear gas to disperse supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord was ended following fireworks thrown on the field at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24, 2023. (Photo by Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
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Dutch Police Use Tear Gas to Disperse Rioters after Ajax v Feyenoord Suspended

Supporters protect themselves as police uses tear gas to disperse supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord was ended following fireworks thrown on the field at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24, 2023. (Photo by Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Supporters protect themselves as police uses tear gas to disperse supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord was ended following fireworks thrown on the field at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on September 24, 2023. (Photo by Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT

Ajax Amsterdam's home Eredivisie game against defending champions Feyenoord was suspended on Sunday as fans threw flares onto the pitch, and mounted police used tear gas to disperse rioting fans outside the stadium.

A group of angry Ajax fans tried to force their way into the Arena stadium after the game was halted, leading the police to disperse them with tear gas, Amsterdam police wrote on social media platform X.

"After the stopped game supporters broke into the main (stadium) entrance. Order has since been restored," Reuters quoted the police as saying.

"It is a jet black day, this makes it even worse," Ajax coach Maurice Steijn told broadcaster NOS.

Ajax were 3-0 down in the second half when the game was suspended.

Ajax, who have had a poor start to the season with just one win, sit 13th in the 18-team league and they conceded all three goals in the first half.

When flares were thrown onto the pitch for a second time, with many landing near the goal, the referee stopped the match and directed the players down the tunnel.

Fans paid no heed as the club displayed the message "Lighting of fireworks is prohibited" on the big screen at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

"De Klassieker has been permanently suspended after repeated fireworks on the field," Eredivisie said in a statement.

"More information on playing out this game will follow later."

Ajax finished third last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 13 seasons. They had finished champions seven times and runners-up another five over the previous 12 seasons.