The KNVB intends to track down the supporters who lit fireworks during the cup final and punish them with stadium bans. This was announced by a spokesperson for the Football Association.
During the match between Feyenoord and NEC, numerous fireworks were set off by both supporters. The match was temporarily interrupted twice as a result. In one of the cases, a fire broke out behind the goal where the Feyenoord supporters were located. A banner caught fire in the canal. The KNVB said through a spokesperson that it will try to identify the perpetrators with the help of video images. They can expect a stadium ban of eighteen to sixty months, as well as a fine ranging from 100 to 450 euros.
The KNVB is the organizer of the cup final and is therefore ultimately responsible for the conduct of the event. However, the Football Association emphasizes that clubs are responsible for their own supporters and how they behave. “Stewards from the clubs and the stadium searched the supporters of the clubs and specially trained dogs were also used for the check. This was done under the watchful eye of the police so that the stewards could do their work without intimidation and escalations,” said the official. spokesman.
The presence of many fireworks was striking. Yet, according to the KNVB, everything had been done to keep the stuff outside the stadium gates. For example, De Kuip was guarded in the nights leading up to the final battle, so that no fireworks could be smuggled in. The association says that supporters have proven to be inventive and have found other ways.
