It is not clear whether the supporters knew that there was a city council. They were sitting in the Irish pub directly opposite at the time. The police monitored everything from a distance, but did not intervene to avoid escalation, even though the supporters were not allowed to be in the city. Even today, on the day of the match, that ban still applies and in principle they have to gather at the border in Rekkem (Menen) to go to the football stadium.
“We already know, we have been in contact, that some of them are planning to go to Rekkem and stick to the rules,” said Lien Depoorter of Bruges police. “The supporters who do not intend to do so, perhaps they do not have a football ticket and want to get to the stadium in a different way, but if we catch them, if we find them, they will be administratively arrested, without mercy.”
