Ajax-PSV game hit by police strike

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Sunday's top Dutch match between league leaders Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven has been postponed because of a police strike.

Amsterdam mayor Cohen said that playing without a police presence was too risky.

Saturday's game between Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar in Rotterdam is also off.

A Dutch court ruled that the strike could go ahead and Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen told Dutch radio that the absence of police would create unacceptable risks for public security.

"We simply can not guarantee that all will go well," Cohen said.

"Of course, we understand the mayor's decision," Feyenoord spokesman Onno Jacobs said on the club's Web site. "It's unusually sad that the police unions are fighting out their battle over the backs of the clubs and supporters."

Police had planned to demonstrate before, during and after the matches to draw attention to their demand for a pay raise up to 15 percent.

Ajax top the standings with 31 points after 14 matches, one point ahead of PSV with Feyenoord a further point behind. E-mail to a friend