Football violence: €70,000 of stadium damage from Sunday’s Cup final

Apart from arrests, injuries and hospitalisations, the violence in Brussels surrounding the Belgian Cup final on Sunday is estimated to have resulted in almost €70,000 worth of damages to the King Baudouin Stadium, according to Brussels alderwoman for sports Florence Frelinx.

“[The stadium] was ravaged: almost 500 seats were torn out or vandalised; the walls were covered with graffiti and stickers, the athletics track was burned by smoke bombs, toilets were destroyed, and all the aisles were littered with rubbish,” Frelinx said.

“The supporters of both teams left the stadium in a catastrophic state. Without wishing to compare the seriousness of the events, this is a continuation of the violence of recent days. This has nothing to do with sport.”

The players’ changing rooms were also left in a deplorable state, she added, condemning the lack of respect shown for the stadium's cleaning teams and calling for sanctions.

“Sport is a time for people to come together and enjoy themselves,” said Frelinx, adding that she plans to send the bill to the football clubs.

“It’s unacceptable for a sports venue to be in such a state after a football match. It’s certainly not up to the citizens to pay.”

Outside of the stadium, significant property damage and violence also occurred in the city, especially in Molenbeek.

Residents gathered there on Tuesday afternoon to show support for the victims, including an elderly man and his son who were hospitalised after being assaulted by Bruges supporters.

The attacks were described as racist, but the outreach initiative from locals aims to offer a peaceful response.

“We must not remain silent about what happened,” said Einat Tuchman, who helped organise the spontaneous initiative.

“Our neighbourhood is very multicultural, many people know each other. We must not create racial division.”

After a brief speech, local residents lay flowers at the store owned by the father and son who were brutally attacked there.

“We are here to say stop to racist violence in our neighbourhood and to support all the victims,” one resident said.

“We are here because we live in this neighbourhood and we think what happened is extremely serious.”

Acting mayor Amet Gjanaj (PS), who was also present, condemned the fact that the hooligans were able to come to his municipality.

Another resident pointed out the hypocrisy in the police response: “I'm shocked by the difference in the reactions of the authorities. When 20 young people from the neighbourhood are out walking, they send 40 police officers. When they know that 200 hooligans are going to pass through here, there's no one. It's disturbing.”

Others say the attacks strike at the heart of their community. “They've hurt young people, they've hurt elderly people, they've hurt Molenbeek right in the heart,” one resident said.

“A football match is normally about the game, maybe about other things that are good, but it's not about going and causing damage in a neighbourhood where people live together in harmony,” added another.

According to the organisers of the rally, violence like this will have an impact on the neighbourhood's young people.

“I work with young people who are racially discriminated against,” one person said. “Things like this reignite the feeling that I don't belong here. I live here, but suddenly someone could tear my home apart.”

Anderlecht mayor Fabrice Cumps (PS) has decided to ban Bruges supporters from his municipality during Club Brugge's playoff match against RSC Anderlecht on 18 May.

“Given the unacceptable behaviour of certain so-called supporters on the fringes of the Belgian Cup final and the inherent risks to public order, I have decided to take administrative police measures to ban Bruges supporters from Anderlecht during the match on 18 May,” the mayor said in a statement.

“This decision is intended to protect both residents and RSCA supporters. There can be no question of a repeat of the shocking scenes we witnessed last weekend in the municipality.

"I have therefore asked the Midi police, my colleagues and RSCA representatives to work together to ensure that this measure is implemented, with the aim of putting the focus back on the game and restoring calm to our streets and to Lotto Park."

Club Brugge management said it strongly disagreed with the ban, calling it a unilateral decision.

“According to the information available to us, this decision was taken against the advice of both clubs, the Bruges police and the Brussels-Midi police zone,” the football club’s management said in a statement.

“The Midi police zone has extensive experience in managing matches between the two clubs and had therefore issued a favourable opinion.”

Bruges mayor Dirk De Fauw (CD&V) contested the ban, saying that unlike the Cup final, this league match will only be attended by 1,000 to 1,500 Bruges supporters who will be transported to and from the game in buses.

Instead of a ban, De Fauw is calling for consultation between the police forces of the two municipalities and is also raising questions about the identity of the rioters, saying that many were not identifiable as supporters and that a thorough investigation is needed before drawing any conclusions.