Vitesse derby postponed after De Graafschap fans block team bus

Vitesse Arnhem's Dutch second-tier match against De Graafschap was postponed on Sunday after visiting supporters prevented their own team's bus from leaving for the fixture. BBC Sport reported that the blockade followed a ban on away fans at the GelreDome, turning a dispute over security arrangements into the cancellation of the Gelderland derby.

Watch the highlights:

According to Dutch media reports cited by the BBC, De Graafschap supporters assembled outside their club's stadium in Doetinchem early on Sunday and stopped the team departing. The Dutch Football Association confirmed that the match would not take place that day and said the matter would be passed to its disciplinary bodies. It condemned supporters preventing a game from being played and the consequences for both the team and other spectators.

Vitesse had announced the away-supporter ban on Saturday, saying it followed police information and consultations with security partners. The club said it had offered 500 visiting tickets rather than the usual 800, subject to additional conditions. Those included inspecting supporters' flags and other fan paraphernalia before arrival. Vitesse maintained that some supporters intended to bring items in a way that did not comply with the agreed arrangements.

The home club also pointed to serious disturbances surrounding the corresponding fixture in the 2025-26 season, when De Graafschap fans were likewise barred. De Graafschap disputed Vitesse's description of the discussions, rejecting its portrayal of the club's commitment and its supporters' position. The two clubs' statements therefore offered conflicting accounts of the circumstances behind the attendance restrictions.

After the postponement, Vitesse director Willem van der Linden expressed disappointment that the regional derby could not go ahead in front of a well-filled stadium. He said Vitesse had worked with the other parties involved to try to get the match played. De Graafschap separately said it was shocked by the incident and wanted to establish a fuller picture before making a more detailed response.

No new date had been announced at the time of the BBC report. Van der Linden said the intention was to stage the rearranged fixture under the same conditions. Following the weekend's matches, Vitesse stood 10th in the division and De Graafschap 15th, with their meeting still outstanding.