It was the first time that away supporters were welcome again at the loaded derby between Willem II and NAC, three hundred in total. It should have been the start of ‘normal numbers of supporters’ at the away games, a police spokesperson said prior to the game on Sunday for the Kitchen Champion Division. But the regional encounter was stopped early in the second half because objects were thrown on the field. And afterwards a confrontation was sought with the Mobile Unit (ME) outside the Koning Willem II Stadium in Tilburg.
Willem II says in a response that he wants to track down the fans who threw things on the field and set off fireworks. The club wants to recover any fines from the KNVB from them. In addition, the perpetrators will receive a stadium ban.
While the duel had started so well. Yes, it was a cauldron in the King Willem II Stadium, with the supporters vocally from their best side. But there was little sign of great unrest between the two supporters groups. Until the game had to be stopped.
Things got restless outside after the final strike, when a group of supporters of the home team directed their anger at the Mobile Unit. Everything was thrown: from cans and containers to sticks and even a fence. The ME intervened a number of times, after which the group was driven apart.
“They are destroying the club in this way.”
Several Willem II supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with the rioters. “They destroy the club in this way, they have no business here at all,” says Jan from Tilburg. Shortly before, he spoke to a boy in a balaclava about his behavior. While the Willem II supporters took their frustration out on the ME outside the stadium, the NAC supporters were still partying inside the stadium.
It took until a quarter to six before the buses with NAC trailers could start driving towards Breda. Does the unrest mean that there will be a ban on away supporters, just like last season? Time will tell. “It was clear that this was not due to the branch,” says Leon Deckers of Stichting Breda Loco’s. “That would never have been possible with those plexiglass walls and nets.”
“We could hear the sirens and police dogs.”
The fact that things got out of hand outside was something the NAC supporters in the stadium were aware of: “We could hear that from the sirens and police dogs. I am curious what twist the police and politics will give to this. NAC Breda can receive the away supporters in a good way, but it will suit some authorities if those fans are no longer allowed to attend the derby.”
Supporters are in any case not welcome during the remainder of the stopped match. It is the task of the team from Breda to maintain its lead. Defender Jan Van den Bergh: “Being 0-3 ahead in a derby against a strong team like Willem II is good. We are happy that we were able to give this to our supporters.”
