In order to more effectively tackle rioters around NAC Breda home matches, there should be a ban on wearing balaclavas near the stadium. Preventive searches must also be carried out. That is what Mayor Paul Depla of the municipality of Breda wants.
Depla writes this in an extensive evaluation of the disturbances after the NAC Breda – Willem II match in December. Six police officers were injured during the riots. Nine suspects were arrested. The fire brigade had to respond to extinguish a fire in the stadium.
Although the matches between the Breda and Tilburg clubs are usually accompanied by extra tension, according to the mayor, there were no signals that riots would occur during the derby on December 22.
Fireworks and chaos in traffic
Yet things went wrong well before the match. More supporters than expected, including the hard core of Lokeren, gathered at a café in the city center. From there the fans would walk to the stadium in an organized manner.
But “the atmosphere changed,” says Depla. The crowds in the city quickly caused inconvenience for residents, entrepreneurs and people doing their Christmas shopping. “There was also tension among the supporters themselves.” The procession therefore left for the stadium earlier and caused chaotic situations along the way. Fireworks were thrown and traffic came to a standstill. An ambulance had difficulty getting through the crowds.
Depla: “Many supporters were also dressed identically in black during the parade. Experience with other riots has shown that this is often done deliberately to make identification difficult when committing disturbances.” And that worried the mayor.
Mobile Unit deployed
For that reason, despite the quiet course of the match, the Mobile Unit was called in. And that turned out to be for good reason. After the match, a large group of unrecognizable men confronted the police. There were blows back and forth and fireworks were thrown. Police dogs had to be used to stop the rioters. During the disturbances a fire was set in the toilets of the branch.
Depla is completely done with the hooligans. This is what the evaluation report shows. Things also got out of hand in April and September last year. “Once again the derby between the two clubs was marred by serious disturbances after the match,” says the mayor. “And once again, football had to make a disproportionate demand on the scarce police capacity.”
‘I won’t let football be destroyed’
The mayor is investigating whether the ban on balaclavas around the Rat Verlegh stadium in Breda is possible. This ban should ensure that rioters are identified more quickly and arrested immediately. “Because the aftermath of reading camera images also costs police capacity.” In the Netherlands, it is now only allowed to cover the face in government buildings, at school, on public transport and in healthcare institutions. That is allowed on the street.
Depla also looks at the possibilities for preventive searches and the organized journey of supporters to the stadium is examined. “I will not allow a relatively small group of rioters to destroy our beautiful football,” Depla concludes.
These images were taken during the riots in December: