The police are investigating possible criminal offenses during AZ-sc Heerenveen last Saturday. People threw from the box burning torches on the field. Then came a counter-action from the side of the Alkmaarders. The Frisian club has already registered three people with the KNVB for a national stadium ban.
On April 1, the Alkmaar club played against the Frisians. In the tenth minute, shortly after Heerenveen’s goal, people lit red flares in the away section that afternoon and threw them on the field.
The game was then stopped by the referees and the players left the field. Gertjan Verbeek, former coach of both teams and now an analyst, says shortly after the incident against ESPN: “This is very exceptional. Normally these are peace-loving supporters.”
According to him, there would be no quarrel between the supporters of the two clubs. AZ director Robert Eenhoorn expresses his annoyance to the reporter. “I can’t give you any sense of reality about what’s happening here.”
Rivalry with Cambuur
The game will resume after ten minutes. There then follows a so-called counter-action on the part of the hard core of AZ supporters.
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People there are also lighting flares: photos at NOS show that there was a fire. In the away game of the Alkmaarders, Heerenveen against AZ on January 14 in the Abe Lenstra Stadium, burning torches were also thrown on the field in the eleventh minute.
These flares came from the box with AZ supporters, but according to insiders, were thrown by supporters of Cambuur, which is seen more as a rival club of Heerenveen.
The police therefore inform NH News about last Saturday that no arrests have yet been made. However, an investigation is underway.
Update at 3:56 p.m.: ten people in the picture, three stadium bans
sc Heerenveen reports on their website that they find the flare incident ‘unacceptable’. According to the club, five people were removed from the guest section during the match. At least three people will be registered with the KNVB for a national stadium ban.
The club also checks whether the damage (destruction of the field and possible fine) can be recovered from those involved. “A total of ten people are being investigated by the club. AZ provides camera images from inside the stadium. They want to punish throwers, but also possible facilitators.
“We are very angry,” said general manager of sc Heerenveen Cees Roozemond. “This action is harmful to the club and does not suit sc Heerenveen. It is an idiotic, premeditated action, often involving young individuals. This has nothing to do with support. It should be clear that we no longer want to see the perpetrators in the stadium for the time being.”