Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bruges mayor Dirk De Fauw defended allowing 1,500 Club Brugge fans at a high-risk away game, citing strict security measures and criticising Anderlecht’s possible May 18, 2025, fan ban.
As VRT News, the mayor of Bruges, Dirk De Fauw, responded to recent criticism about allowing Club Brugge fans at an upcoming away game. He stated that the concerns were unwarranted because they overlooked the strict security measures already in place for high-risk football matches.
De Fauw pointed out that comparing this situation to the cup final, where 20,000 Club Brugge fans attended, was misleading. The cup final takes place at a neutral location with different logistical arrangements and a more even distribution of supporters. In contrast, league matches held at the home team’s stadium operate under tighter restrictions.
He mentioned that for these games, especially those deemed high-risk, only a limited number of away fans are permitted, a maximum of 1,500, and they are subject to strict controls throughout the event. De Fauw emphasised that these measures are well-established and effectively manage fan behaviour and ensure public safety.
“In the case of a high-risk match in the competition, the combination scheme applies,” says De Fauw. “That means that you will not enter the stadium if you do not use the transport that is organised.”
Did Bruges mayor De Fauw justify allowing club fans?
The mayor explained that Club Brugge fans are always escorted by police, ensuring they are safely transported to and from the stadium. At the stadium, these fans are directed to a specific, separate area designated for away supporters to minimise any potential for conflict.
De Fauw believes it’s unreasonable for Cumps to propose banning Club Brugge fans entirely, as if these security measures were not already in place or effective. He suggests that this proposal might be driven more by political motivations or emotional responses rather than genuine safety concerns.
According to De Fauw, as long as the existing security framework is respected and properly enforced, there is no valid reason to prevent Club Brugge fans from supporting their team at away games.
“It can indeed be done safely,” De Fauw continues. “The mayor can introduce a decree before the match and immediately have Club supporters who do not have a ticket for the match, but are still around the stadium, arrested.”
The mayor of Bruges, Dirk De Fauw, has spoken out strongly against the recent violence connected to football. He made it clear that he believes those who were involved should face consequences. To help stop hooliganism and keep the public safe, he supports banning people from stadiums.
De Fauw wants a complete and fair investigation to find out exactly who was responsible. He pointed out that there is video footage that can be used to look closely at what happened. While some of the violent people were definitely Club Brugge supporters, others’ connections aren’t as clear from the images. Because of this, De Fauw says it’s very important that the investigation is done carefully so that no one is wrongly blamed.
Besides talking about the violence, Mayor De Fauw also mentioned a decision by the mayor of Anderlecht. This decision might affect Club Brugge or its fans, possibly a ban for the game on May 18, 2025.
De Fauw hopes the Anderlecht mayor will rethink this decision, as he thinks it might be unfair, especially before the investigation. He plans to talk with Anderlecht’s authorities to discuss this further. De Fauw wants cities and clubs to work together to solve fan-related problems legally, without punishing fans.
