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FC Groningen joke catches fire: match postponed

April 13th, 2008 | By: Jan | 7 Comments »

No comment….

The FC Groningen fans thought it would be fun to live up the Groningen - Ajax match yesterday by chucking toilet paper on the pitch. The Groningen management even sanctioned this “funny act”. But, a couple of fans thought it would be even more funnier if they’d light the paper up. Within seconds, the fire was out of control and 1000s of fans made for the exits. A total of 30 people needed to go to hospital and the lack of oxygen in the stadium resulted in a total cancellation of the game. Several players needed to get extra oxygen!

Hans Nijland, manager of Groningen: “Maybe it would have been better if we didn’t allow this…”. Yeah, maybe.

Now, the game will be played mid-week.

At least, we saw some fire in one the stadiums this weekend. Good God!

Tags: Ajax, Dutch Eredivisie, Euroborg, Groningen, Group C, Oranje, The Netherlands

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Comments

By simon | April 14th, 2008 at 2:51 am

Not a very good way to get the World cup.

By Jan | April 14th, 2008 at 3:24 am

True! It’s so stupid. I was supposed to be a ludicrous act, it wasn’t even real hooliganism!

Darwin awards, anyone?

Posted from Australia

By goose | April 14th, 2008 at 4:49 am

it was no hooiligan act…just stupid kids…. now Psv can become champ on wednesday without playing (the game will be played april 16)

just pathetic

Posted from Netherlands

By Bob | April 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am

Here in the US, football (soccer) continues to struggle with mass fan interest or appeal. There are several sports commentators with a national following who constantly bash the sport as being boring, etc. When an incident such as the Groningen-Ajax match nonsense occurs, it fuels these commentators even more and allows them to justify their anti-football attitude. The assumption becomes that all soccer fans are asses, who act poorly and support an inferior sport. I completely reject those assumptions, as my experience is completely different. The vast majority of fans are well behaved and understand the beauty, artistry and complexity of this wonderful sport. The Dutch who allowed this misconduct to occur should be held responsible, and should be disciplined. The manager proves his own stupidity with his comment, and everyone comes out a loser. The lizard part of the human brain is always lurking, isn’t it, and when it acts out, we all suffer.

Posted from United States

By Caleb | April 14th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Don’t even get me started on the stupid american (canadian too) sports commentators that bash soccer. They obviously don’t know anything about interesting sports if they like baseball and choreographed (fake) wrestling… dumbasses

By goose | April 15th, 2008 at 4:54 am

Dont think football will ever be popular in the US…. but that doenst matter to me….let them have their own sports like US Football/Hockey/Baseball/Basketball …

Posted from Netherlands

By Caleb | April 15th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

I agree with you goose. I just find it annoying when they bash a game they don’t understand.. or worse, when every 4 years they all of a sudden think they are God’s gift to the sport.

Posted from Canada