The President of RSC Anderlecht Wouter Vandenhaute spoke to the press on Monday about the fan trouble which occurred match against Standard. He made an appeal to politicians to fight hooliganism together. "We cannot do this alone," Vandenhaute stressed.
On Sunday night, Belgium's 'clasico' game between Anderlecht and Standard de Liege ended in a 3-1 defeat for the Brussels side, with the game being marred by episodes of hooliganism and the sacking of Anderlecht's manager Felice Mazzù.
"Anderlecht is in full crisis and it is the moment for myself, the club, players, staff, and players to look in the mirror," the purple-and-white president told the crowd in his introduction. The behaviour of "a very small section of the supporters," was once again condemned by Vandenhaute.
Anderlecht's chairman Wouter Vandenhaute during a press conference of Belgian soccer team RSC Anderlecht after the defeat to Standard de Liege. Credit: James Arthur Gekiere / Belga.
The fine of €50,000 imposed by the Pro League will be accepted by the club.
Still, the RSCA president also is concerned when it comes to hooliganism. "We have a very big problem in football today," Vandenhaute observed.
Politics needs to consider football
"I think Michel Verschueren is turning over in his grave today. The period when he went among the supporters, that is unfortunately not the way it can be handled today." Verschueren was a legendary Anderlecht manager who was at the club for 23 years, between 1980 and 2003, but passed away last month at the age of 91.
Fire fighters at the match between Standard de Liege and RSC Anderlecht after Anderlecht fans threw flares and smoke bombs on the pitch. Credit: Virginie Lefour/Belga.
After the Heysel tragedy, hooliganism was dealt with harshly across Europe. Nearly forty years later, these kinds of incidents are on the rise again in Belgium. To try to solve the problem Vandenhaute stated that he reached out to politicians, which he claims have pushed football away in recent years.
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Vandenhaute believes the government needs to see football as an ally again, to see its social importance.
"Without adequate cooperation between clubs, the government and the police, it is not going to work. We cannot solve this in the current framework," the Anderlecht president said.
