Americans Abroad

O'Brien to make Den Haag debut at secret location.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, August 9, 2005) -- In one of the more bizarre soccer stories recently, United States midfielder John O'Brien will likely make his debut for his new team ADO Den Haag in an undisclosed, secret location, in front of empty stands.

Den Haag's season opener in the Dutch Eredivisie Sunday is against O'Brien's old team Ajax at its ArenA Stadium in Amsterdam. The two teams are not just bitter rivals on the field, but off the field and in the stands as well. Previous meetings between the two clubs have been marred by fan violence.

Because of problems last season, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) had already ordered the match to be a closed-door affair, played in front of empty stands. But that likely would not have prevented supporters of both teams from gathering in the shadow of the stadium to pick up the feud where it left off last season.

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen said that his police force is already stretched thin this weekend and could not provide adequate security. The KNVB then tried to move the match to The Hague, but Mayor Wim Deetman would not allow it to be played in his city.

So, according to KNVB spokesperson Frank Huizinga, the match will be held on a neutral field with the location not revealed until after the game is completed.

"Unless there is a change in circumstances, the match will be played on neutral ground without spectators," Huizinga told the media. "The venue will likely be secret."

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.