Is this a bridge too far.....

[MadAmster]

.... even for football hooligans?

Last Thursday, Feijenoord were at home to Union Berlin in the UEFA Conference League.

On Wednesday evening, a party of around 25 Germans were enjoying a beer on the terrace of a bar in Rotterdam. They were attacked by a group of about 35 Feijenoord "fans", one of whom was arrested. One of the Germans was taken to hospital with a head wound which turned out not to be serious and he was released from hospital soon afterwards.

The Germans happened to be the board of directors of Union Berlin and other "non-football" management and staff.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I thought that was at Remagen....

[MadAmster]

..... that's in Germany. Not sure if it's your old History teacher or your old Geography teacher you should contact

[ramAnag]

Got a ‘soft spot’ for Union Berlin...nicely run club with a stadium in a forest and, despite a small capacity, a great atmosphere by all accounts.
Is it any worse that it was the ‘board of directors’ that were attacked by mindless thugs? No, imo, it’s no worse than when any genuine and innocent fans are the victims of such thuggery. Might make the powers that be sit up a bit more (for about half an hour) but then I suspect the directors of Union Berlin are more likely to include more ‘ordinary folk’ than most clubs.

[MadAmster]

Following the recent Derby between NEC and Vitesse (Vitesse won), the NEC "hard core" had a go at the police. 23 arrested. The local mayor has said that if any of the arrested who get found guilty don't get lifetime bans from the stadium, he will revoke the club's permission to play at the stadium (required under local law).

It now turns out that one of those taking part, it hasn't been made clear of he was one of those arrested but the police have said he is one of those identified wrecking a police van, played for NEC U18s Academy side. I use the past tense because NEC have thrown him out of the Academy. Kudos.

[ramAnag]

Following the recent Derby between NEC and Vitesse (Vitesse won), the NEC "hard core" had a go at the police. 23 arrested. The local mayor has said that if any of the arrested who get found guilty don't get lifetime bans from the stadium, he will revoke the club's permission to play at the stadium (required under local law).

It now turns out that one of those taking part, it hasn't been made clear of he was one of those arrested but the police have said he is one of those identified wrecking a police van, played for NEC U18s Academy side. I use the past tense because NEC have thrown him out of the Academy. Kudos.

You’re not painting a great picture of Dutch football support, MA. Is hooliganism worse over there?

[MadAmster]

You’re not painting a great picture of Dutch football support, MA. Is hooliganism worse over there?

It's worse than in England and has been for a while. As in England we know the term "stadium ban". However, Dutch Law doesn't permit the reporting to police stations from 2 hours before a game until 2 hours after etc. No taking passports away during international tournaments abroad. It is well known that the majority of those with a banning order still go to matches, getting in despite them having to have a club membership to buy tickets and there is never pay on the gate.

Yesterday the CEO of Feijenoord announced he was leaving his post as of November 1st due to the huge amount of death threats he and his family receive on a daily basis and have done ever since the plan to build a new ground, close to the current one, was announced a year ago. Certainly the bigger clubs like Feijenoord, Ajax etc have many supporters groups. Following the resignation announcement yesterday TWENTY groups sent a letter to the club asking for a meeting to discuss how the club has "drifted away from the fans" in the past 30 years. The most verbal and physical groups at all of the clubs are teeenagers fuelled by drink and drugs. The group which has recently spray painted FJK (acronym of Feyenoord Jongeren Kern) on his door. They have put bricks through his house windows. Sent death threats online and by post. Just because the committee and the commissioners have decided a new, larger stadium in a complex of shops, hotels etc would be the best to cement the club's financial and sporting future..... They are crazy kids who appear to know no fear.

[ramAnag]

It's worse than in England and has been for a while. As in England we know the term "stadium ban". However, Dutch Law doesn't permit the reporting to police stations from 2 hours before a game until 2 hours after etc. No taking passports away during international tournaments abroad. It is well known that the majority of those with a banning order still go to matches, getting in despite them having to have a club membership to buy tickets and there is never pay on the gate.

Yesterday the CEO of Feijenoord announced he was leaving his post as of November 1st due to the huge amount of death threats he and his family receive on a daily basis and have done ever since the plan to build a new ground, close to the current one, was announced a year ago. Certainly the bigger clubs like Feijenoord, Ajax etc have many supporters groups. Following the resignation announcement yesterday TWENTY groups sent a letter to the club asking for a meeting to discuss how the club has "drifted away from the fans" in the past 30 years. The most verbal and physical groups at all of the clubs are teeenagers fuelled by drink and drugs. The group which has recently spray painted FJK (acronym of Feyenoord Jongeren Kern) on his door. They have put bricks through his house windows. Sent death threats online and by post. Just because the committee and the commissioners have decided a new, larger stadium in a complex of shops, hotels etc would be the best to cement the club's financial and sporting future..... They are crazy kids who appear to know no fear.

Really sad...and a real indictment of the Dutch legal system.
I’ve always found the Dutch to be a really friendly nationality.

Mel Morris must be forever grateful he doesn’t live in the Netherlands...he said with tongue only partly ‘in cheek’.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I guess it comes down to the fact that the dutch wear clogs, same as Lancastrians, hence the violent streak must come from this choice of footwear. Bill Tidy had it right in his immortal Privare Eye strip

[Trickytreesreds]

I've always wondered about the softness of dutch law.

I remember a Dutch lorry driver, (jailed here for 12 years for drug smuggling), laughing because the home office had granted him the chance to go to a dutch jail and complete his sentence.
He had served 3.5 years here. Dutch courts would have given him a lot less and low and behold, he served 6 months in Holland and was released. He bragged that despite having his lorries seized etc, he had 7 million euros buried in a field in Holland.
Am I surprised at what Maddy is saying? Well no, not in the least.