Who are the AZ Ultras who attacked West Ham fans… but were held off by just two supporters?

Brawls with opposition fans, fireworks, and stadium break-ins: AZ Alkmaar fans have built up something of a reputation for themselves in recent years.

Last night’s chaos saw horrifying scenes where violent Alkmaar fans, wearing hoods and clad all in black, tried to force their way into West Ham’s hospitality area following the Europa Conference League semi-final clash in the Dutch city.

Two heroic West Ham fans were able to stand their ground as the thugs tied to force their way beyond the stairwells leading up to the stands. Fending off a group of Alkmaar supporters, matching them blow-for-blow, they were able to deter the mob from reaching the Hammer’s players’ loved ones.

This is by no means the first incident of hooliganism or violent altercation involving supporters of the Netherlands’ Alkmaar and Zaan districts. Brutal clashes with opposition fans, planned brawls, and stadium break-ins by fans have all tainted AZ’s image.

And although Alkmaar fans generally have something of a meek reputation as supporters in the Netherlands, a group of vocal ultras has historically caused serious headaches for the club.

One shocking incident from 2017 saw a pre-arranged showdown between groups of AZ and Feyenoord hooligans.

Some 20 fans from each side organised the meet-up on a remote wasteland to throw fists at one another indiscriminately. The baron location was on the outskirts of Alkmaar, around 50 miles (80km) from Feyenoord’s stadium.

Each side lined up facing each other – one side in white and the other in black. Charging towards one another, the two sides eventually meet in the middle as the brawl ensued.

The football thugs swing their fists intending to knock their rival fan group down.

Some of the men lay still on the ground after being met with a fist or foot. Others continued thumping each other, breaking off into smaller groups at first before rejoining the mass scrap.

The meetup was reportedly dubbed a ’20-20′ scrap, with each side agreeing on the rules ahead of time. Both sides agreed no weapons, and anyone who had already fallen to the ground wasn’t allowed to be hit.

Dutch police launched an investigation following the incident, stating that they would not tolerate fights between the hooligans.

Another incident that has added to AZ’s tainted image saw fans force their way into a closed-off stadium.

The match between AZ and NEC Nijmegen in November 2021 was supposed to be held behind closed doors due to an increased risk of coronavirus infections the country.

But AZ fans broke into the stadium after just 15 minutes, letting off fireworks in the ground, and drawing a halt to the game.

Fireworks and flairs were initially let off by the fans outside the stadium before the ultras group entered the AFAS Stadion.

Hooded thugs dressed in black, with masks covering their faces, were seen jumping over the hoardings, with some managing to get onto the pitch. Others ignited flairs in the far corner of the ground as red smoke lit up the stand.

The hooligans started chanting as referee Jeroen Manschot was forced to stop the game for a period. Play later continued as the thugs were removed by security. 

the behind closed doors game between AZ Alkmaar and NEC Nijmegen was delayed when fans broke into the stadium to protest the Covid restrictions. 

This was not the first time that European nights have drawn chaos and violent scenes for AZ.

Earlier this season a clash broke out with Dundee fans and police ahead of the European Conference League qualifier in August.

Ahead of Dundee’s 7-0 defeat, supporters of each team were chanting 

Fans reportedly launched glass bottles at one another as police were called in to deal with the brutal situation. 

Some fans ran to find shelter in nearby pubs amid the raining down of glassware as the violence ensued.

The incident caused authorities to intervene, whipping out batons and striking fans – largely Dundee supporters – in an effort to disburse them and force them away from the pub doors.

Elsewhere ahead of the game, AZ fans reportedly attacked a group of Scottish fans processing to the Alkmaar stadium.

Footage saw the Alkmaar hooligans ambush the Dundee fans as they carried their orange flags and banners around the Dutch city.

Clad in black and their faces covered by balaclavas and facemasks, the violent group was seen charging at their European opposition before a brawl broke out on the street.

AZ’s hooliganism stems from the club’s infancy with a group called the ‘Ben-Side’ supporters. The name relates to where the faction sits in the Jan van der Ben stand – named after a predecessor club’s chairman – on the short side of the stadium where up to 500 supporters would sit and vocally cheer on their side.

According to an AZ supporter website, the group proudly claims that they ‘made their mark for the first time’ at an away match at Feyenoord in 1977 by clashing with the opposition fans and throwing beer bottles and cans at players.

An infamous meeting of the group also saw them meeting with Haarlem in June 1977. Riots ensued over the match with many supporters bringing knives, later resulting in several arrests.

In a horrific altercation in March 1986, AZ and PSV fans clashed as a 16-year-old was stabbed and some 28 people arrested.

The 16-year-old victim, a PSV fan who was not identified, was rushed to hospital.

The same game also saw confrontations between supporters of the two teams as a home-made pipe bomb was thrown into the PSV stand, but resulted in no injuries, The New York Times reported at the time.

The era of hooliganism raged on and in 1977, the club supporters came to blows with Haarlem fans. Six people were hospitalised after the blow between the fans, before the sides reportedly turned on the police.

In more recent years, the ‘Ben-Side’ group has proudly depicted its support online, showing its members in black clad raising flairs, letting fireworks off and raining havoc at both home and away matches.

Despite this, group claims on their website that they are only interested in ‘improving the atmosphere in the stadium’. 

The exact identity of the black clad AZ fans is currently unknown as Dutch police say they are continuing to analyse footage of yesterday’s attack.

The police force said: ‘Together with AZ, the municipality of Alkmaar and the public prosecution service we will evaluate last night’s incidents, which we regret having happened. This kind of behaviour has no place in football.’

UEFA is also expected to launch its own probe into the incident. 

Last night’s incredible footage saw two fairly elderly supporters refusing to budge out of the way for AZ fans, as they soaked up the punishment dealt out by the ultras and forcing them back down the stairs.

One of the brave fans, nicknamed ‘Knollsy’, received huge plaudits on social media when one of his friends let slip he’d recently undergone a hip replacement but still rose to the defence of one West Ham player’s girlfriend.

A second fan wearing a green shirt pulled off a similarly miraculous defence of his idols’ families, pushing and shoving at the hooded hooligans surging up the stairs towards him.

Seeing the fight, West Ham players Michail Antonio and Flynn Downes leapt over the hoardings and made a beeline for the stands, followed closely by teammates Lucas Paqueta and Said Benrahma.

Security teams eventually managed to force their way in and separate the crowds while other guards jumped in to hold back the furious footballers.

Dutch police said they had made no arrests but added they were trying to identify violent fans from footage.