Antwerp FC has strongly condemned fans who, on Sunday, set off pyrotechnics during a match gainst Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
The mayhem started at the end of the game, following a second yellow card given to Antwerp’s Denis Odoi.
This led to a sequence of events in which a pyrotechnic device thrown from among the Antwerp supporters bounced over home player Gustaf Nilsson, who had just scored a penalty and was lying on the pitch after a collision with an opposing player.
Two more devices were launched towards the home stands by visiting supporters.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) prosecutor’s office has announced plans to follow up the incident.
Antwerp FC itself strongly condemned the fans’ misconduct. “Launching fireworks is inappropriate, puts people in danger and can have severe consequences,” the club said in a statement. “Fortunately, we’ve received word that no one was injured,” it added.
Antwerp FC, Club Brugge and law enforcement have pledged to do everything possible to identify and appropriately punish those responsible.
“These individuals tarnish our club’s reputation and have no place in a football stadium or in the Red-White family,” Antwerp FC stated. “Our club has invested heavily in recent years in creating a safe football environment and the means to identify the right individuals.
“This is done in conjunction with all appropriate agencies, both within the football world and beyond. We will continue to do that and expand our efforts.”
