Beerschot supporters cross the line in Brussels, CEO Pro League responds: “Oliedom” | Brussels

“We are Beerschot, we do what we want”, it sounds at almost every match of the Antwerp football club K. Beerschot VA. That some of the supporters also mean this, was shown again on Saturday evening in the Edmond Machtens stadium of RWDM. Several times that part of the supporters was racist towards the Molenbeek supporters. “Box full of macaques, it’s a section full of macaques”, it sounded from the visitor’s section. It soon rained outrage on social media.

“Oliedom”, responded the Pro League (the association of professional clubs in Belgium) CEO Lorin Parys. “The federal prosecutor will work with it on the basis of the match report,” says Parys. “The Pro League will support but also strictly follow.” So it looks like the chants are going to get a serious tail. “The policy is clear. This is unacceptable,” said Parys. “Appropriate action will follow.” He also announced that Beerschot has been contacted and that a supporters meeting will follow.

It is by no means the first time that the Antwerp football club has been discredited by the behavior of their supporters. Moreover, Brussels and Beerschot do not seem too good a marriage. Last season there were disturbances in the away match against Union in the Duden Park. At the end of the match at Union, the supporters threw some flares on the field. Then some hotheads climbed over the balustrade to fight with the Union supporters. It then resulted in a forfait defeat for Beerschot. It was a sad conclusion to a disastrous season for the Antwerp club. On December 27 of last year, the Beerschot supporters again received negative news, this time with a defeat against Anderlecht. Even then they went verbally over the line, even though no public was allowed due to the corona crisis. At a cafe on the Kiel, images can be heard of how one offensive song followed another, aimed at Anderlecht and/or arch-rival Antwerp. From “Hamas, Hamas, all Jews to the gas!” about “those Jews burn the best”, to even the Nazi slogan “Sieg Heil!” The Antwerp police drew up an official report for inciting discrimination, hatred or violence against a group or community and handed the case over to the public prosecutor.