That Telstar took a big step towards their first Eredivisie participation in 47 years at the expense of FC Den Bosch on Friday should have been a night of celebration in Velsen-Zuid. But massive riots after the match cast a shadow over the special achievement.
With the score at 2-1 just before the end, the stadium speaker asks the supporters in the 711 Stadion on Friday evening if they want to celebrate the party on and in front of the stands. Telstar is not waiting for a *pitch invasion,* where supporters storm the field.
But when referee Bas Nijhuis blows the final whistle a minute and a half later, it happens anyway. Supporters massively run onto the field to celebrate with the players of ‘De Witte Leeuwen’. Danny Bakker is taken on the shoulders as the hero of the evening – he shot Telstar to the winning 2-1 in the 109th minute.
Sitting on those shoulders, Bakker sees how on the other side of the field one after another Den Bosch supporter breaks out of the away section and then storms towards the celebrating Telstar crowd.
“During the *pitch invasion* I had a flashback to FC Emmen (the last league match, ed.). That was nice,” Bakker said to NU.nl afterwards. “But that flashback was short-lived. I knew immediately that things were going wrong, also because of the fans of FC Den Bosch. They are not sweethearts. It got pretty loose.”
Telstar and Den Bosch Supporters Fight Each Other on the Football Field
Koeman also Fled Inside
While players from both clubs sprint inside, a confrontation occurs between fans of Telstar and Den Bosch. People punch and kick each other, both against the body and against the head. People who are already defenseless on the ground are also attacked. Belts are even used.
FC Den Bosch captain Danny Verbeek is right in the middle of it. “I tried to get between the groups,” said Verbeek. “I’m from Den Bosch and I know the away fans, so I knew what time it was. But everyone was so emotional that I couldn’t turn it around anymore. You saw people attacking each other.”
Goalkeeper Ronald Koeman junior, as Telstar’s keeper, is right next to the section with Den Bosch fans, which suddenly empties. “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 often indicated that the away section is dramatic.”
After a few minutes, the police manage to get the supporters back into their section with batons and dogs. An end is also put to a scuffle that arises to the left of the away section between home and away fans. Chairs are thrown at each other.
“I thought the help was slow to arrive,” 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.”
Telstar Director Does Not Want To Respond
At least one person was injured in the riots, although eyewitnesses say that several people left the field bloodied. The injured fan remained motionless on the ground after the riots, after which he received medical attention. Screens were even put up to shield the man. After treatment, he walked off the field himself.
How such a massive fight could have happened and how the misconduct could have lasted for minutes is unclear. General director Leon Annokkée of Telstar did not want to respond on Friday evening, because he first wants to get a better picture of the situation.
Trainer Anthony Correia of Telstar also did not waste too many words on it. “It is extremely sad,” he said. “You know this is going to 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 are “a stain 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,” said Bakker. “Fortunately, everyone got away unscathed. But if we go to the Eredivisie, the club needs to get this kind of thing better in order. Tonight that was not the case enough.”