Final policing preparations under way for Thursday’s cup final

Police are finalising a security plan to prevent Anderlecht and Union Saint-Gilloise supporters from clashing before and after this Thursday’s cup final, with just days to go before the big match.

Growing bitterness among the supporters is fuelling fears of violence, Bruzz reports, particularly after the final.

The Brussels Capital/Ixelles police zone said that it was still working "behind the scenes", but what is already known is that before kick-off, in keeping with cup tradition, the teams’ respective fans will each gather in their own fan village.

A secure buffer zone between the two clubs is intended to ensure the necessary distance.

What remains to be seen is whether there will be sufficient security measures in place on the way to the match’s location and after its ending.

“If we lose, I think things could go wrong,” one Anderlecht fan warned Bruzz. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Tensions between the two clubs have been mounting in recent years. The fact that Union Saint-Gilloise are also playing their European matches in Anderlecht’s home stadium has long been a source of resentment among more fanatical Anderlecht supporters.

The growing animosity between the Brussels rivals has not yet led to any serious clashes, in large part due to the combined transport scheme. For most matches, the transport of visiting fans follows a strictly defined pattern.

The away supporters, often numbering about 1,000, board buses under police escort and, upon arrival at the stadium, remain separated from the home crowd while making their way to the away section.

After the match, police escort the fans back to the buses, which are parked close to the away section. This generally prevents confrontations between rival supporter groups in or around the stadium.

But such a combined scheme is unfeasible for the cup final, according to both the police and the Pro League.

“Just try putting 20,000 fans on buses twice and parking them in closed car parks around the stadium. It’s an impossible task,” authorities have said.

Michel Goovaerts, chief of police for the Brussels Capital/Ixelles zone, did advocate for a combined transport scheme for cup matches last year in the aftermath of the cup final between Club Brugge and Anderlecht.

At that time, riots broke out in the capital before and after the match, culminating in a rampage by some Brugge fans through the streets of Molenbeek.

“We do not expect [violence],” said a spokesperson for the Brussels-Midi police zone, which covers the territory of both clubs.

“Our spotters know which supporter groups they need to keep a close eye on.”

Retired police commissioner Philippe Boucar, an expert in football policing, is also optimistic.

“There is a certain ‘cohabitation’ between the clubs - the tensions are sporting in nature, without any real hostility,” he told Bruzz.

“Unlike the Bruges hooligans, we are not dealing here with supporters who want to attract negative attention.

"Although it’s inevitable that there will be a mixing of supporters on the metro and public transport when travelling to the stadium, given the circumstances, this need not be a problem, provided there is a well-managed police presence.

"The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone is able to manage this, with the support of the federal police."

The deployment of private metro trains has also been investigated, though this option would be difficult to implement.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea if separate metro trains carrying Union fans and separate trains carrying Anderlecht fans were organised,” one Union fan told Bruzz.

“Especially after the match. I reckon there’ll be at least 15,000 Union supporters on public transport. If Anderlecht lose, I fear the ultras from Mauves Army will be boarding the same metros, trams and buses.”

A spokesperson for Brussels mayor Philippe Close (PS) has assured the public that the necessary security measures will be put in place.