Yesterday evening, hundreds of Willem II supporters gathered in a square in Tilburg to watch the match against Rangers FC. Theo Wetering, the mayor of Tilburg, allowed this gathering which videos show did not adhere to coronavirus measures at all.
In the video below, you’ll see the fans huddled up close, singing and yelling with no masks on at all. Some were even throwing fireworks, reports NU.nl.
Video: Willem II supporters voorafgaand aan de wedstrijd tegen Rangers vanavond! 24.09.2020! (Europa League) #willemII #ultrassnl #ultras #wilran #tilburg #EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/md5qy2Exmu
— Ultrassnl (@ultrassnl) September 24, 2020
Fans were banned from watching the game live at the Koning Willem II Stadium on the Goirleseweg in Tilburg, for the purpose of keeping coronavirus measures. But the municipality gave permission for a large screen to be set up in the square, so that up to 1000 fans could watch the game together. They were given instructions to keep a safe distance, but of course it did not take long for the rowdy bunch to group together.
Despite the fans’ behaviour — which presented an obvious coronavirus risk — Wetering defended his decision, saying, “If you don’t allow it, you run the risk that supporters will manifest themselves in different places in the city. By having them watch the game together in a square, it is all easier to control and enforce it. It was a conscious choice.”
Losses and lessons
In the end though, the mayor admits that the gathering was for nothing as the Tilburg team lost 0-4 to the Scottish club Rangers FC and are now out of the tournament.
“With the knowledge of now and the information we still get from the police, we will certainly look back next week, evaluate and draw our lessons,” Wetering told Omroep Brabant.
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Feature Image: Daniel Kern/Pixabay