Flemish football club Club Brugge is imposing a stadium ban on 34 supporters who gave a neo-Nazi salute just before the match with Standard de Liège last weekend, the club's management announced on Tuesday.
The Belgian Football Association had already started proceedings after footage showing a large group of Brugge fans giving the so-called Kühnen salute (a variant of the Hitler salute) was shared on social media. Club Brugge, however, did not wait for the outcome before taking further steps.
"Both the club and its supporters are shocked by the racist greeting seen in the Standard away box on Sunday night," according to an announcement on its website.
The Brugge supporters made the neo-Nazi salute in response to an anti-racism statement by Standard's players, who walked onto the pitch together with 300 youth players wearing white and red masks (the club's colours) covering their entire faces, in a silent protest against racism.
'Not worthy of our Club colours'
Club Brugge took further steps and identified 24 supporters on Monday, before filing a report against them with the Civil Exclusion Chamber of Belgium's Football Association, which should lead to a stadium ban.
On Tuesday, they identified ten more supporters and announced that they will refuse to allow the 34 fans to attend any of Brugge's future home and away matches. "There is no place for misbehaviour within the blue and black family. We will continue to take proactive action against people who are not worthy of wearing our Club colours."
The Federal Prosecutor's Office is also planning to present a disciplinary summons, known as a federal action, to the National Chamber in the fight against Discrimination and Racism, Belga News Agency reported on Monday.
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The court intends to address all parties involved (both Standard and Club Brugge), before establishing a federal action. Club Brugge will be held accountable for its fans' actions.
The National Chamber has a wide range of possible sanctions, which could range from fines and behind-closed-doors matches to alternative sanctions, such as a club having to start a campaign against racism or having to work with a certain group of supporters.
