The derby of the Dutch second football division between the MVV Maastricht and the Roda JC Kerkrade he was suspended this Friday at minute 42 for various incidents, such as the launching of flares, which led to the entry of riot police on the lawn and several charges.
In the first minutes of the match, the stadium’s public address system intervened to ask that the players stop throwing plastic cups of beer. Subsequently, fans of both teams threw flares at each other, some of them ending up on the field.
The match referee stopped the match and sent the players to the changing rooms, while the stadium’s private security tried to stop MVV Maastricht fans who jumped onto the pitch to access the stands where the Roda JC Kerkrade supporters were, producing confrontations in some cases.
The riot police entered the field and charged in the space between the bands and the first rows of the stands of the home fans, at the height of the billboards. Later, the authorities gave the order to vacate the stadium and suspend the game permanently.
The coaches of both teams agreed with the decision. “Mutual rivalry is good, it is part of football, but it must be kept within limits and that has not been respected here. Throwing flares has nothing to do with football,” MVV Maastricht coach Klaas Wels told the ESPN chain.
The coach of the Roda JC KerkradeJurgen Streppel added that he did not feel safe during the match and that he is “responsible for the safety” of his players.