Shirtless Ajax fan climbs scaffolding to lead chants in central London

Ajax fans descended on Leicester Square and the Strand ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Tottenham.

The Dutch giants took part in their first final-four game in Europe’s elite club competition in 22 years on Tuesday night and their supporters are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Ajax won the first leg in London with a single goal coming early on in the match from midfielder Donny van de Beek.

After their fans took to the streets of London, those back home could be seen letting off flares and flying the Israeli flag – the Amsterdam team, like Tottenham share Jewish roots – in the Dutch capital.

On a warm day in London, their supporters met in Leicester Square to enjoy a raucous pre-game session.

 

Ajax fans celebrating their victory over Tottenham as they light flares and dangle from lampposts in Amsterdam on Tuesday night

Ajax fans celebrating the match in central Amsterdam, one holds an Israeli flag - both Tottenham and Ajax share Jewish roots which their fans are proud to display

Ajax fans celebrating the match in central Amsterdam, one holds an Israeli flag – both Tottenham and Ajax share Jewish roots which their fans are proud to display

Ajax fans holding cups of lager surround another holding a red flare as they celebrate their victory over Tottenham in the first-leg of their semi-final clash in the Champion's League

Ajax fans holding cups of lager surround another holding a red flare as they celebrate their victory over Tottenham in the first-leg of their semi-final clash in the Champion’s League

Thousands of Ajax fans thronged the streets of central London ahead of making their way up to Tottenham's new north London stadium on Tuesday evening

Thousands of Ajax fans thronged the streets of central London ahead of making their way up to Tottenham’s new north London stadium on Tuesday evening

An Ajax fan holds a flare outside a London cinema ahead of their side's European clash

An Ajax fan holds a flare outside a London cinema ahead of their side’s European clash

Ajax fans cheering their team as smoke from a burning flare streams into the night sky in Amsterdam on Tuesday

Ajax fans cheering their team as smoke from a burning flare streams into the night sky in Amsterdam on Tuesday

Fans of the Dutch club then chanted in the heart of London as they prepared for the big game

Fans of the Dutch club then chanted in the heart of London as they prepared for the big game

An Ajax fan holds a red smoke grenade aloft along with a can of lager as he enjoys himself in central London ahead of kick-off

An Ajax fan holds a red smoke grenade aloft along with a can of lager as he enjoys himself in central London ahead of kick-off

Ajax travelling support wearing black hoods and caps as they clap their hands and sing in central London on Tuesday afternoon

Ajax travelling support wearing black hoods and caps as they clap their hands and sing in central London on Tuesday afternoon

Dutch fans - some with their faces covered - chant on their way from central London to Tottenham's new home in north London

Dutch fans – some with their faces covered – chant on their way from central London to Tottenham’s new home in north London

Smoke could be seen billowing through the air as the police attempted to marshal the fans through London's packed centre

Smoke could be seen billowing through the air as the police attempted to marshal the fans through London’s packed centre

A smiling Ajax fan sits on top of a lamppost as he and thousands of other Dutch supporters celebrate in Amsterdam on Tuesday night

A smiling Ajax fan sits on top of a lamppost as he and thousands of other Dutch supporters celebrate in Amsterdam on Tuesday night

Ajax fans celebrate with flares in Amsterdam after their victory over Tottenham in the first-leg of their Champion's League semi-final in London

Ajax fans celebrate with flares in Amsterdam after their victory over Tottenham in the first-leg of their Champion’s League semi-final in London

Ajax fans show their support for the Dutch side as they count down the hours until kick-off

Ajax fans show their support for the Dutch side as they count down the hours until kick-off

Fans of the Dutch side chill out in Leicester Square ahead of making their way to the stadium

Fans of the Dutch side chill out in Leicester Square ahead of making their way to the stadium

Ajax supporters have travelled in large numbers to watch their side compete in the semi-final

Ajax supporters have travelled in large numbers to watch their side compete in the semi-final

A group of supporters show off their dance moves as they take advantage of their London trip

A group of supporters show off their dance moves as they take advantage of their London trip

One Ajax supporter climbed scaffolding in Leicester Square and led supporters in chants

One Ajax supporter climbed scaffolding in Leicester Square and led supporters in chants

The fan took off his shirt and sprayed beer as they built up to their game against Tottenham

The fan took off his shirt and sprayed beer as they built up to their game against Tottenham

Another supporter was seen climbing a balcony as Ajax fans gathered in central London

Another supporter was seen climbing a balcony as Ajax fans gathered in central London

A particularly enthusiastic Ajax fan was even spotted climbing a piece of scaffolding to address to the rest of the supporters.

He cracked open a beer to the acclaim of those gathered below before spraying the drink around his head and leading the rest of the fans in a chant.

The fan then descended down the scaffolding and continued the celebrations back at street level. 

A double-decker bus appears to be stranded amid a sea of Ajax fans heading to the match carrying a huge banner

A double-decker bus appears to be stranded amid a sea of Ajax fans heading to the match carrying a huge banner

An Ajax holds a red flare in the air as others chant in Leicester Square on Tuesday afternoon as police officers watch on

An Ajax holds a red flare in the air as others chant in Leicester Square on Tuesday afternoon as police officers watch on

Dutch fans pack Leicester as they prepare for their clash with Tottenham with chanting, flares and beer

Dutch fans pack Leicester as they prepare for their clash with Tottenham with chanting, flares and beer

A topless supporter became the centre of attention as fans built up to the game on Tuesday

A topless supporter became the centre of attention as fans built up to the game on Tuesday

Another fan performed some break dancing in the build up to the European semi-final

Another fan performed some break dancing in the build up to the European semi-final

The scenes appeared largely good natured, with police on hand to keep an eye on things

The scenes appeared largely good natured, with police on hand to keep an eye on things 

Ajax fans were later videoed chanting on the Strand as they counted down the hours until kick-off at 8pm (UK time). 

London Metropolitan Police were on high alert for Tuesday’s semi-final clash. Uniformed police officers were stationed inside Tottenham’s new stadium, in addition to the usual stewarding procedure, after the force raised the risk level of the fixture to a Category C fixture.

A section of Ajax’s support have a reputation for causing trouble. There were clashes with Italian Juventus fans before the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Amsterdam and busloads of Ajax fans were raided by police on the eve of the second leg in Turin.

Italian authorities upended 54 weapon-carrying ‘ultras’ and escorted them out of the country. Ajax fans were found in possession of knuckle-dusters, mouth guards and pyrotechnics.

Thorough checks were made on supporters entering the stadium, while the police were also wary of any hot-spots in the capital after the trouble that played out in Amsterdam when England fans travelled to Holland for a friendly match last year.

Tottenham will host the raucous Ajax supporters at their new ground on Tuesday evening

Ajax are surprise semi finalists having beaten Real Madrid and Juventus to get this far

Ajax are surprise semi finalists having beaten Real Madrid and Juventus to get this far

A fan, beer in hand, kicks an inflatable beach ball as the Dutch supporters enjoyed themselves

A fan, beer in hand, kicks an inflatable beach ball as the Dutch supporters enjoyed themselves

Rubbish is left scattered in London as Ajax supporters leave their mark in the capital city

Rubbish is left scattered in London as Ajax supporters leave their mark in the capital city

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk