Hooligans Text Rivals And Then 'all Hell Breaks Loose': 'It's Getting Crazier Here!'

lion fightThe massive brawl on Friday night at the station in Leeuwarden was the result of provocative app traffic between ‘supporters’ of Cambuur Leeuwarden and sc Heerenveen. Between thirty and forty people were involved in the confrontation. The owner of a cafe saw it happen up close. “My staff is completely gutted about it.”

All hell broke loose at the touch of a button, says Philip Frank, owner of Proeflokaal Wouters. Heerenveen supporters, or rather: football hooligans, sat at one of the large tables on his terrace on Friday evening. They made noise as football supporters often do, but the atmosphere was generally pleasant. Until one of the supporters throws a message into the world via social media. Frank sees the message. “It was clearly meant to come and fight each other.”

‘Go to a meadow!’

From that moment on, the flame quickly hits the pan. “Those guys got up and started throwing things. Chairs, glasses, ashtrays: everything went up in the air. It was utter chaos,” says Frank. Images show how the group throws patio chairs at each other in front of the restaurant door. The atmosphere is aggressive and grim. The supporters pull a mask or hood over their heads and smash everything short and small with a destructive urge. Officers try to keep them at a distance with a baton.

Meanwhile, the boys and girls in the ministry are terrified, says Frank. “I think it’s the worst for them. They were very shocked. Of course something like that has an impact. It seems like the world is getting crazier and crazier. This behavior is simply inexplicable. Why here, and at this time? Find each other in a meadow, and leave other people alone. You only hurt and sadden people.”

Text continues below these images of the brawl:

‘Very antisocial’

According to Frank, the police are quickly present in large numbers. Some officers have dogs with them. The ME is ultimately not deployed. Train traffic has to be stopped because some men are also on the track. The trains are now running again and it is quiet again in the Frisian capital. The damage to the restaurant is somewhat minor. But the outstanding bill has not been paid by the supporters. “Very antisocial, of course, but the most important thing is that no one was injured,” says Frank.

The restaurant receives support from local politics. ‘I hope that these sad horns will go to the Wouters tasting room today to apologize, reimburse costs and pay the outstanding bill!’, Carlijn Niesink, party leader ChristenUnie Leeuwarden, tweets. In a statement, the restaurant thanks everyone for all their support. “We are shocked and deeply regret the incident. We will do everything we can to recover the damage from those responsible. Your support and messages have done us good. Thank you for this!’, can be read on Facebook.

Arrests

Meanwhile, three men are in jail for public violence; a man of 23 from Heerenveen, one of 21 from Ooststellingwerf and a 26-year-old without a fixed place of residence or residence. CCTV footage is available and an investigation is underway. Many people have seen it happen. The police are therefore looking for more footage.