The Gelderland derby in Arnhem has no NEC supporters. The Nijmegen club has been told that no supporters are welcome at the clash with Vitesse on Sunday, April 7. Safety cannot be guaranteed.
The decision stems from the crisis at Vitesse. This causes great tensions in Arnhem, both on a sporting and administrative level. Police, municipality and justice therefore fear for safety in and around the stadium.
Vitesse shows understanding for the choice not to allow away fans in GelreDome. This does not apply to the NEC supporters’ association. He is ‘severely disappointed’ and in response ‘calls on the club not to travel to Arnhem because safety cannot be guaranteed’.
In recent years, the stands with away supporters at the derby have also remained empty. After the riots in De Goffert in Nijmegen in 2021, in which the away section with Vitesse fans in the stadium also collapsed, visiting supporters were banned. For the match in GelreDome on February 27, 2022 (4-1 for Vitesse), there were no NEC supporters in the stadium.
Boycott
Last season, NEC received 400 tickets for the match. But the Nijmegen supporters thought that was not enough. A boycott of the derby followed. The Gelderland clash ended 0-0 in Arnhem in January 2023.
800 tickets were available for NEC supporters for this derby. Since these are high-risk matches, that is the maximum number. The away section would have been sold out.
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Tags: Safety guaranteed Vitesse stadium derby NEC supporters great misunderstanding among Nijmegen fans Speed
