Four supporters of football club ADO Den Haag were convicted on Thursday for their involvement in the riots after their club’s match against Excelsior. They have to go to jail for up to six months, ANP news agency reports.
“The indignation was enormous,” the police judge said, according to ANP. “The Hague was lousy internationally and nationally. Physical violence against cops cannot be tolerated and deserves no compassion.” The public prosecutor in The Hague said that the suspects “showed the club, the beautiful sport and our beautiful city from the ugly side”.
Unconditional prison sentence
The four men were sentenced by summary judgment. Three suspects were sentenced to six months in prison, of which two months were suspended. They have been convicted of, among other things, hitting a riot police officer with a drainpipe and throwing stones at the riot police. A fourth suspect, a 25-year-old man from The Hague, was given a five-month unconditional prison sentence. He was previously sentenced to three years in prison for producing ecstasy and was slowly being prepared for a return to society.
Riots broke out outside the stadium of ADO Den Haag at the end of May, after the club missed promotion to the Eredivisie against Excelsior. At least four police officers were injured.