Football club NAC has apologized to FC Groningen and will take ‘appropriate measures’ against a supporter who crossed the line towards Groningen player Kevin van Veen on Friday. The football club reports this after an investigation into Friday’s match.
After just sixteen seconds, the Groningen footballer was greeted by two supporters at the corner flag. According to NAC, it is not possible to explain exactly what was said. But it is clear to the club that those curses are the reason why Van Veen later cheered provocatively at supporters after a goal.
The competition in the Kitchen Champion Division had to be temporarily stopped after Van Veen’s provocative cheering. Van Veen had plastic cups hit in the head.
He explained his reaction afterwards to ESPN: “I love emotion and drive, but there are grown men standing there and calling my unborn daughter the K-word. I may have overreacted, but in a human way. There is a limit, even for a football player.”
After viewing the images, NAC also concludes that a supporter made a gesture to Van Veen ‘that goes beyond all bounds’, when Van Veen was substituted.
NAC says it has identified the perpetrator and is taking appropriate measures. “This behavior has no place in our stadium. We have also apologized to FC Groningen for this,” NAC said.
“Contrary to what was reported in some media, Van Veen’s dissatisfaction concerns an individual action by two supporters.”
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