Supporters of Kozak Boys attacked a Spakenburg player and his family on Saturday. That happened after the home game lost 1-2. During the match, the player, Ahmed El Azzouti, was subjected to racist treatment, RTV Utrecht reports. The footballer played for Kozak Boys between 2016 and 2019. According to the broadcaster, the Werkendam club could not be reached for comment.
El Azzouti was the bitten dog. He scored twice and with his second goal he decided the game in Spakenburg’s favor in the 87th minute.
According to several attendees, supporters towards El Azzouti already shouted ‘AZC get rid of it’, ‘cancer Muslim’ and ‘cancer Moroccan’ during the match.
“I had such a wonderful time here.”
The footballer can hardly believe this has happened. “I had such a wonderful time here,” says El Azzouti. “My mother never comes to my matches, only when we play against Kozak Boys, because she thinks that is the best club. But I have also seen them leave in tears.”
During the match, El Azzouti’s fellow players asked if he wanted to leave the field. “I didn’t want to give it any attention,” he told RTV Utrecht afterwards. “I said we had to get the points and go home. It just motivated me.”
Afterwards, the fire exploded when dozens of Kozak Boys supporters sought out the Spakenburg team bus. There was swearing and cans of beer were thrown at the players. El Azzouti was still showering and his teammates wanted to go back to the locker room to get him and his family safely to the bus. He was guided to the parking lot via a detour, but when the Werkendam supporters realized this, a smoke bomb was thrown in his direction. Several players from Spakenburg also heard how a steward said that he ‘would not protect Moroccans.’
“I’ve seen my brother and brother get hit.”
After the smoke bomb went off, El Azzouti ran from the sports park. “And now get out,” he heard a steward shout, after which he shoved him. The gates of the sports park remained open, allowing the troublemakers to chase after El Azzouti and a brawl broke out. “I saw my brother and brother get hit. We ran to the bus. But then my mother was still at the sports park.”
El Azzouti can’t believe some stewards weren’t on his side. “This has affected me the most. The vast majority have done everything to protect me and my family.”
When the home fans misbehaved, the Kozak Boys players decided to help their opponent. “All those players tried to protect us from their own fans, that solidarity was unprecedented,” says Spakenburg team leader Eric Kok. “When it turned out that El Azzouti’s mother was still at the sports park, while we were already on the bus, the Kozak Boys players brought her safely to us.”
The West Brabant police confirm that they performed in Werkendam and then accompanied the players bus to the highway. The police have not yet reported the matter.
The KNVB says it cannot yet say what exactly happened. “But discrimination is unacceptable, players deserve respect.”