The Jewish mayor of Amsterdam has not endeared himself to football fans in the north east. Job Cohen called on Sunderland to be banned from a tournament in his city later this month when it emerged that local rivals Newcastle United would be playing a pre-season friendly at the same time in nearby Utrecht. Mayor Cohen feared that there would be very little friendliness in evidence if the two sets of supporters were to encounter each other. He didn’t get his way, though. The Football Association barred Newcastle from travelling instead. The club says it is “extremely disappointed” at the decision.

If Mayor Cohen visits the Tyne and Wear area on a municipal fact-finding mission any time soon, then I’m a Dutchman.