Football supporters against stopping matches when things are thrown onto field

The Supporterscollectief Nederland regrets that matches in professional football are also being stopped this football season if an object ends up on the field from the stands. Chairman Matthijs Keuning calls it "a drastic measure" and states that well-meaning supporters suffer from the actions of a small group that misbehaves by stopping matches. The supporters' association sees more benefits in a "perpetrator-oriented" approach.

Since April last year, referees have stopped matches if something is thrown on the field. The reason for this was an incident where Ajax player Davy Klaassen was hit on the head by a lighter during the match between Feyenoord and Ajax in the semi-final of the KNVB Cup. The referee stops the match if something is thrown again after the game has resumed. This also happens if a player or referee is hit. Since the rules were tightened, many matches have been stopped, even if it was only a plastic drinking cup on the field.

"We think it's a bit exaggerated to stop a match on the field for something like a cup," says Keuning about the current rules. "Because the actions of two people can determine that. We think that's a drastic measure that can also backfire, that someone does it intentionally to have it stopped." The supporters' collective would rather see the perpetrators tracked down after the match, for example, using camera footage. "Make sure someone is caught after the match, but don't let the entire stadium suffer."

According to Keuning, there are fewer incidents with objects on the field in the stadiums, and it is best to look at each case individually. "Last season, we also saw cases where no one in good conscience wanted a match to be stopped, but it happened anyway because we had a protocol for that. With such a rule, you emphasize what is not going well, while in general, things are going well: the stadiums are full, and people feel comfortable and safe. Let's not let that be ruined by one or two people who want to throw something on the field."

The Dutch football association KNVB has indicated that the rules regarding the suspension of matches may be relaxed in the future, but this is not yet the case. The new Eredivisie season starts on Friday at 8 p.m. with a match between promoted teams FC Groningen and NAC Breda. The Keuken Kampioen Divisie will also start on Friday.