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WORRIED Dutch police have drawn up a hooligan hitlist in a bid to keep Celtic supporters safe in Amsterdam this week.

They are desperate to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the Hoops’ last visit to the city.

And police chiefs have vowed to crack down hard on known Ajax thugs by arresting them on sight if they are spotted before Thursday’s Europa League clash between the Dutch giants and Ronny Deila’s Celts.

Police chief Olivier Dutilh said: “We are targeting the Ajax hooligans and they know that as soon as they come into town, we will arrest them.”

Trouble erupted when the Parkhead side last travelled to Amsterdam two years ago.

Hoops fans were attacked by armed thugs in a bar the night before the game and there

were violent clashes in the city’s Dam Square on the night of the Champions League match.

But the authorities are on alert ahead of Celtic’s return, with extra security measures being put in place.

Around 100 more officers will be on duty than in 2013, while a special fanzone is also being created for travelling supporters.

And the Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan has granted police special powers to arrest any known Dutch casuals who are spotted in or around Dam Square.

Dutilh admitted they were caught out by the huge numbers of Celtic fans two years ago.

But he doesn’t expect the same again and has been liaising with his Scots counterparts in a bid to ensure there is no repeat of the trouble.

Dutilh said of the hooligan hitlist: “We know who these people are. We have a specially trained unit who know them by their names and know them by sight.

“Our mayor has implemented some specific legislation which allows us to arrest them.

“Even when they haven’t done anything but are just present and gathering together, we can arrest them. We have that in our law and can use it for specific events so the mayor has agreed that this match is one of them.

“I can assure the Celtic fans that the day before the match and matchday, it’s completely not possible for the Ajax hooligans to come close to them. We want the Scots fans to be together. They will be safe, they will have fun and can enjoy everything Amsterdam has.

“The main problem two years ago was that the Ajax hooligans were constantly looking for fights – and they sometimes did.

“We had up to 8000 Celtic fans in Dam Square and that was more than had tickets. The problem was the Ajax hooligans mixed with a lot of Scottish fans who had a lot to drink.

“One of the Ajax fans stole a flag and there was an eruption of violence. There are many bicycles in Amsterdam and they were being thrown about along with stones and bottles.

“The difference this time is that there will only be around 2000 Celtic fans, so it’s a lower number. The second point is we will have a specific fanzone at Dam Square where they can be together.

“At that specific area, they will be allowed to drink alcohol – outside of the area, they won’t.

“In the centre of Amsterdam you can’t drink alcohol outside but we’ll have a fanzone where they are allowed.

“We will surround that area so no Ajax hooligans will be able to get near the Celtic fans.

(Image: Imago/Barcroft Media)

“There won’t be a fence penning people in as such but we are discussing the possibility of a small perimeter. There will be drinks and music. It’s about making it fun, rather than shutting people away.

“We will escort supporters from the fanzone to the match. That means nobody can wait for them and attack them.”

Celtic fans told after the 2013 match how they believed they were being attacked by hooligans but it turned out to be undercover cops who they accused of heavy-handed tactics.

Police accused rival groups of fans of fighting with bottles and sticks. Eight officers were injured and 44 people were arrested – 28 of them Celtic fans.

Most of the arrested Scots were freed, either without charge or after paying fines.

Five were convicted of attacking police and given jail sentences of between two

weeks and two months.

All were immediately freed, pending appeals.

A sixth accused, John Quigley, from Kilmarnock, was cleared of all wrongdoing and later awarded £3000 by the Dutch courts to compensate him for the time he spent in custody.

Some Ajax fans condemned the police’s behaviour, accusing them of excessive violence.

Some officers waded in with dogs and horses.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

Dutilh said: “I wasn’t in charge of the match two years ago but I have spoken to my colleagues who were and we have discussed things.

“We have evaluated what happened very deeply and saw a lot of things.

“We have taken the complaints on board, about the arrest teams working in plain clothes. In Holland, we are used to this but we now know people in Scotland are not.

“So there were occasions that people were thinking they were attacked by Ajax hooligans but it was the police. Now there will be many who are recognisable – there will be no mistakes.

“There will still be plain-clothed police working but once they arrest someone, they will put a jacket on straight away.

“We are working closely with the Scottish police as well, we have been in constant contact with them.”

Celts fans have been warned not to carry the flags of Ajax’s rivals and told they won’t

get into the Amsterdam Arena for the match if they are too drunk.

Timeline of trouble as rivals lock horns again

OCTOBER 22, 2013: Celtic’s Green Brigade snatch a banner from Ajax rivals before the Parkhead Champions League clash and wave it upside down during the game. Ajax Ultras react by uprooting seats and hurling them into Celtic end.

NOVEMBER 5, 2013: On the eve of the away leg, around 50 Celtic fans are attacked by masked men armed with pick axe handles in the Old Sailor Cafe in Amsterdam.

NOVEMBER 6, 2013: Trouble flares in Dam Square before the match, resulting in 44 arrests.

Of the 28 Celtic supporters held, 22 are freed – 10 without charge and 12 after paying fines. Dutch Police say eight officers were hurt after being attacked with bottles and sticks but many Hoops supporters blame them for heavy-handed tactics.

Meanwhile, Uefa opened a disciplinary case against Ajax after fans unfurl an offensive banner during the game at the Amsterdam Arena.

NOVEMBER 13, 2013: Ajax are fined 25,000 euros by Uefa over the incident with the banner.

NOVEMBER 22, 2013: Five Celtic fans are found guilty of using violence against Dutch police ahead of the match.

They are handed jail sentences between two weeks and two months and freed, pending appeals.

A sixth accused, John Quigley, from Kilmarnock, is cleared of all wrongdoing.

In June last year, he was awarded £3000 by the Dutch courts to compensate him for the time he spent in custody and the cost of his ticket.

DECEMBER 2, 2013: Amsterdam’s mayor blames Ajax hooligans for starting the violence in Dam Square.

A report by city police says the rioting was triggered when three Ajax supporters stole a flag from Hoops fans.

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan says the incident and the “hit-and-run” raid on the Old Sailor were the main triggers for the violence.

AUGUST 28, 2015: The former European champions are drawn together in the group stages of the Europa League.

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