Jongen in Ajax-tenue threatened during ADO-duel: Hij began to cry

Vandaag at 19:51, an unsettling incident unfolded on the FC ’s‑Gravenzande pitch during a Westlands side versus ADO Den Haag training match. Eight‑year‑old Sil, wearing an Ajax-shirt for the Amsterdamse club, was threatened and fled in tears, shouting “Hij wil nooit meer terug”, vowing never to return.

His mother Stephany told the Algemeen Dagblad that Sil ran to her crying, saying he wanted to leave immediately. “Als moeder breekt je hart op zo’n moment,” she said, describing the heartbreak she felt.

Stephany recounted that a spectator warned the child, ‘I would change that shirt or you will get beaten’, a harsh threat for a practice game. She added that it was an oefenwedstrijd at his own club, where such words were unexpected.

Toen Sil went looking for selfies and autographs, he received the full backlash. His mother saw the boy approach her, visibly shaken.

FC ’s‑Gravenzande manager John Jonk responded to the AD, stating the amateur club welcomes children in any shirt and condemns the ‘omgekeerde wereld’ that targets an eight‑year‑old. He emphasized that everyone should be free to wear what they like, especially young children.

Social media users criticised the idea that Sil should not wear an Ajax-shirt during the ADO-duel. Stephany argued that an eight‑year‑old may, within limits, wear whatever he likes because he is simply a child who loves football.

The incident highlights the deep‑seated animosity toward the Amsterdamse club in the The Hague region. It raises broader concerns about protecting youngsters from aggression in amateur football settings.