Mayor Van Brugge opposes decision to exclude supporters of Bruges in the capital, Minister Verlinden asks « proportional measures » (inland)
© ID/ IVAN PUT
The mayor of Bruges, Dirk De Fauw (CD&V), opposes the decision of the mayor of Anderlecht, Fabrice Cumps (PS), not to allow Club Brugge supporters during the match against Anderlecht on 18 May. He receives the support of Minister Verlinden.
According to the mayor, the match of a different order is than the cup final and the chance of problems is much smaller.
Mayor Cumps van Anderlecht decided after the violence after Sunday’s cup final that Club supporters were not welcome during the Match of Anderlecht against Club Brugge on 18 May. The Bruges mayor De Fauw does not agree with that. « There is a big difference between a cup match with 22,500 supporters together and the competition of May 18 where only 1,000 to 1,500 are allowed. »
According to De Fauw, the chance of problems is much smaller in the match against Anderlecht. « We work with a combi arrangement where supporters are obliged to take the bus to the stadium and also take the bus back home. So they can’t go anywhere else, » it sounds. « The chance that violence will be committed is therefore much smaller. »
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That is why the Bruges mayor prepared an email to his colleague from Anderlecht with a question to consult. « I want to propose that the Anderlecht police contact our police to see how everything can be arranged safely. »
The supporters of Club Brugge who had nothing to do with last Sunday’s riots in Brussels should not be banned from attending the next game between Anderlecht and Club Brugge on 18 May. That now also says Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V).
Read too. « Stellig Disagree »: Club Brugge opposes the decision by Mayor Anderlecht to ban fans on May 18
“I see people dressed in black on images, without supporter. So we don’t know who those people are and maybe it is even people who are not actually a supporter and come to commit violence, « says De Fauw. » First that situation must be thoroughly investigated and then conclusions can be drawn. The role of the local police must also be viewed, because she was in charge. It must be investigated how those supporters ended up in a completely different municipality. «
Combet ticket
Minister Verlinden called for « proportional » measures on Wednesday morning. « The incidents have nothing to do with football fans. They are rioters who only come to destroy the infrastructure and metro sets. You have to make the difference, » she says.
According to her, it is not about supporters who come to the stadium with a combination ticket, which also includes transport by bus and access to the stadium. « Everyone can take the train and if the rioters want that, they will do so with or without prohibition from the municipality. »
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said earlier that he analyzes the facts with the competent authorities and he reminded that the Football Act will be strengthened so that the perpetrators of violence can be more easily identified and punished.
