A group of children did not know what hit them on Friday night. While they were playing football on a square near the FC Eindhoven stadium, about ten to fifteen PEC Zwolle supporters came running towards them wearing balaclavas. “They started hitting the children out of the blue. I think they couldn’t stand losing,” says a mother.
“I’m so angry,” says the mother of one of the children the next day. “The boys play football here almost every night, but I’ve never experienced this before.”
While the boys aged 14 and 15 kicked a ball on the field at the Toon Schröderlaan, the whistle sounded in the Jan Louwers Stadium: FC Eindhoven defeated PEC Zwolle 4-2.
balaclavas
“When the game was over, a large group of boys came running towards the children,” says the mother. She thinks that the attackers could not stand losing and that is why they went berserk.
“They were clearly on the warpath, because they wore balaclavas and some had a steel bar with them. One of the children was hit in the neck with it.” Eventually, the police intervened and officers chased the rioters away.
The children are, according to the mother, very frightened. Some have injuries to their necks or heads, but no one was seriously injured. On Saturday, the parents of the children will file a report at the police station.
One arrest
Police say they arrested one man on Friday evening. The policemen were also pelted by rioters with stones, street furniture and full cans of beer. Because the emphasis was on restoring order, only one arrest was made, the police said. An investigation has been launched to track down other rioters.
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