Indoor football clubs Hovocubo and Tigers Roermond will play against each other tomorrow evening. A spicy match, because the last meeting was stopped after riots between players and supporters in the Opgang sports hall in Zwaag. Things also went wrong in other indoor football matches, which is why the KNVB has drawn up new guidelines this season.
The drawn up manual contains the stricter rules. There are clear rules about what to do when an audience enters the field. It also states what the procedure is when objects are thrown on the field and what the sanctions are for the players if they seek redress from the arbitration.
Back to a few months ago. Hovocubo and Tigers Roermond played against each other in June in the semi-finals for the national championship. After the abandoned match, the all-deciding match had to be played on neutral grounds at the KNVB. There were the Limburgers do not agree and they didn’t show up. As a result, Hovocubo qualified for the final for the national championship.
“The KNVB did not want to look at our defense,” said Tigers chairman Chaib Ramdani. “They wanted to play as quickly as possible. I think we are more disadvantaged. Our player who was sent off at the time was ultimately acquitted. Still, I don’t want to look back too much and make more fuss about it. We have spoken to each other and the air has been cleared. Football is not a war and I hope everyone feels that way.”
At Hovocubo they also want to look ahead. “We have started a new season and are going to make it a top competition,” said Tineke Diaz, secretary of Hovocubo.
Threat
The first final match in Hoorn between Hovocubo and FC Eindhoven was canceled by the mayor in June due to an unknown threat. The mayor received a report from the police that there were concerns about public order and safety. The police did not want to elaborate on where the threat came from, but it was rumored that the threat came from Roermond.
“That is the biggest bullshit I have heard. Any idiot can pick up the phone. Our supporters are not like that. Friends and acquaintances of ours play at FC Eindhoven and they would never do that,” said Ramdani.
Both clubs say that the air has been cleared. “Players from both clubs have normal contact with each other. I don’t understand what people are concerned about,” says Diaz.
Cameras on the audience
The municipality of Hoorn reports that Hovocubo and a safety advisor from the municipality have been in contact. Agreements have been made about supporter support for both clubs. Law enforcement officers from both clubs will be present and there will be a separate section for away fans. These are also cordoned off with barrier posts. Tigers Roermond installs two cameras on its own audience.
“Both clubs assume that it will be a nice and sporting match,” said a spokesperson for the municipality of Hoorn.