FC Groningen plays the last match of the season against Sparta without an audience. The board of the club and the municipality have decided that. They think the risk of disorder is too great.
The decision follows the disturbances of last weekend when the match against Ajax was stopped after ten minutes. That happened when rioters threw smoke bombs on the field from the North Stand in the Euroborg.
A 27-year-old man also ran onto the field with a banner. He is not being prosecuted. FC Groningen reports destruction of the playing field. The smoke bombs left black burn marks.
The incident is not isolated. On April 22, the home game against NEC was stopped after an 18-year-old boy from Bedum threw a drinking cup at the linesman.
Pressure from hooligans
And then there’s even more. Part of the old core of the Z-side, the hard core of visitors to FC Groningen has been terrorizing things for a long time. A number of security guards, catering staff and possibly also volunteers of the club are facing pressure from hooligans. They do not dare to intervene if they see someone carrying fireworks, such as smoke bombs.
Mayor Koen Schuiling said on Wednesday that playing without an audience is ‘extremely disappointing for the real supporters’. Given the seriousness of the situation and the incidents, no FC Groningen supporters will go to the away match against Vitesse in Arnhem.
Is it right that the last match of the season in the Euroborg is played without an audience? Or is this measure going too far? What do you think? Participate in the statement of the day and give your opinion.