A €50,000-fine has been imposed on Beerschot after it abandoned a Jupiler Pro League match against Antwerp on Sunday. The Royal Belgian Football Association also confirmed a 5-0 forfeit loss for Beerschot.
The heated derby was halted around the 75th minute, with Antwerp leading 4-0, after Beerschot fans threw flares onto the pitch at Bosuilstadion.
Referee Lothar D’Hondt had already paused the match once, but flares were again thrown immediately upon resumption, prompting him to suspend the game.
Although the match was supposed to resume, Beerschot, currently at the bottom of the League, forfeited the rest of the game. Antwerp was awarded a 5-0 win as goals could potentially have been scored in the last quarter-hour.
The Belgian football association’s disciplinary committee will now review the incident, and prosecutor Ebe Verhaegen has seven days to initiate proceedings.
Typically, the disciplinary committee imposes several matches without fans and a €10,000 fine. The process usually takes about two months, so a decision is expected by late November or early December. Further sanctions may follow.
