That Telstar’s victory over FC Den Bosch on Friday marked a significant step towards their first Eredivisie participation in 47 years should have been a festive evening in Velsen-Zuid. However, massive riots after the match cast a shadow over the special achievement.
With the score at 2-1 just before the end of the game on Friday evening, the stadium announcer asked the supporters in the 711 Stadion to celebrate the party in front of and on the stands. Telstar was not looking forward to a Pitch Invasion, where supporters storm the field.
But when referee Bas Nijhuis blew the final whistle a minute and a half later, it happened anyway. Supporters rushed onto the field en masse to celebrate with the players of ‘The White Lions’. Danny Bakker, the hero of the evening for scoring the winning goal in the 109th minute, was carried on the shoulders.
Sitting on those shoulders, Bakker saw Den Bosch supporters breaking out of the away section on the other side of the field and storming towards the celebrating Telstar crowd.
“During the Pitch Invasion, I had a flashback to FC Emmen (the last league match, ed.). That was beautiful,” Bakker told NU.nl afterwards. “But that flashback was short-lived. I knew right away that things were going wrong, also because of the fans of FC Den Bosch. They are not sweethearts. It got pretty wild.”
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Telstar and Den Bosch Supporters Fight Each Other on the Football Field
Koeman also Fled Inside
While players from both clubs sprinted inside, a confrontation erupted between fans of Telstar and Den Bosch. People were punching and kicking each other, both in the body and head. Even people already defenseless on the ground were attacked. Belts were even used as weapons.
FC Den Bosch captain Danny Verbeek was right in the middle of it. “I tried to get between the groups,” said Verbeek. “I’m from Den Bosch and know the away fans, so I knew what time it was. But everyone was so emotional that I couldn’t stop it anymore. You saw people attacking each other.”
Goalkeeper Ronald Koeman junior, as Telstar’s keeper, was standing right next to the section with Den Bosch fans, which suddenly emptied. “I saw guys climbing over the fence after the final whistle. Then I immediately fled inside,” said Koeman, who was not surprised how easily the Den Bosch fans managed to break out. “I have indicated more often that the away section is dramatic.”
After a few minutes, the police managed to get the supporters back into their section with batons and dogs. An end was also put to a commotion that arose to the left of the away section between home and away fans, during which chairs were thrown at each other.
“I thought the help was long in coming,” said Verbeek. “There were only a few security guards on the field. It seemed like the police thought: let it go, we’ll see what happened later.”
Telstar Director Does Not Want To Respond
At least one person was injured in the riots, although eyewitnesses said that several people left the field bloodied. The injured fan remained motionless on the ground after the fighting, after which he received medical assistance. Screens were even put up to shield the man. After treatment, he walked off the field himself.
It is unclear how such a massive fight could have occurred and how the misconduct could have lasted for minutes. Telstar’s general manager Leon Annokkée did not want to comment on Friday evening, as he wants to get a better picture of the situation first.
Telstar coach Anthony Correia also did not want to waste too many words on it. “It is extremely sad,” he said. “You know this will be a mess. The Den Bosch supporters are not the easiest. Am I angry about this? Mostly very sad.”
Koeman said afterwards that the riots were “a blot on the evening”. The thirty-year-old Bakker, who missed his lap of honor for the ecstatic home crowd due to the riots, agreed.
“To be honest, the riots overshadow this beautiful evening,” Bakker said. “Fortunately, everyone got away safe and sound. But if we go to the Eredivisie, the club has to get things like this in better order. Tonight, that was not the case enough.”