Feyenoord fans’ fireworks injure rival supporters: Dutch football in crisis

Dutch football faces another safety crisis after Feyenoord supporters launched fireworks into rival stands during Sunday’s Eredivisie fixture in Leeuwarden, injuring five visiting Cambuur fans and forcing a 20-minute halt to play. The incident, which saw red flares and pyrotechnics land among home supporters and narrowly miss Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, has reignited concerns over crowd disorder in the Netherlands’ top flight. The match, played at Cambuur’s 10,000-capacity stadium, was temporarily suspended at the 28th minute when the away end’s coordinated display of pyrotechnics overwhelmed the stadium’s emergency response systems.

The fireworks attack and its immediate fallout

Play was suspended in the first half after Feyenoord’s away end unleashed a barrage of fireworks, including one that detonated just metres from Ernst. The flare landed so close that the goalkeeper had to dive clear to avoid injury, a moment described by Feyenoord general manager Robert Eenhoorn as “simply terrible.” Cambuur later confirmed five fans suffered burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries, while the Leeuwarden mayor Foort van Oosten condemned the attack and vowed an investigation. The injured supporters were treated by on-site medical staff before being taken to Leeuwarden Medical Center, where two required overnight observation for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

The match resumed despite the injuries, though officials admitted protocols would have mandated abandonment had a player or referee been struck. “That doesn’t feel right,” said Jan Bluyssen, KNVB manager of professional football competition affairs. “We need to examine whether the protocol is still appropriate and how we might want to adjust it.” The Dutch football association has since pledged to review its crowd disorder measures, a response echoed after similar incidents last season. The KNVB’s emergency protocols, which include mandatory stadium evacuations for pyrotechnic detonations near spectators, were activated but deemed insufficient to halt the match once the flare landed on the pitch.

Dutch football’s recurring pyrotechnic problem

This is not an isolated case. Last season, an Eredivisie match between Ajax and Groningen was abandoned after five minutes when fans ignited fireworks behind a goalpost, forcing the referee to halt play. The restart attempts were met with further pyrotechnic displays, and the fixture was officially called off. Ajax condemned the scenes as “utterly outrageous,” citing the risk to spectators and players. The pattern—fireworks, suspensions, investigations—has become depressingly familiar in Dutch football’s top tier. In the 2022-23 campaign alone, the KNVB recorded 12 incidents of pyrotechnics causing match delays across the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, with three fixtures abandoned entirely.

The Cambuur incident follows a broader trend of fan violence disrupting matches. Earlier this year, a Celtic supporter died after falling ill during a Champions League qualifier, raising further questions about stadium safety standards across Europe. While the circumstances differ, both cases underscore how quickly crowd trouble can escalate into life-threatening situations. Dutch football’s own history includes the 2021 death of a 21-year-old Ajax fan during clashes with police outside the Johan Cruyff Arena, a tragedy that prompted temporary stadium bans for several supporter groups.

What needs to change?

Feyenoord’s response has been swift but reactive. Eenhoorn’s condemnation of the fireworks is clear, yet the club’s ability to prevent such incidents remains in question. The KNVB’s review of protocols is a necessary step, but past failures suggest deeper systemic issues. Dutch football’s reputation for fan culture is now overshadowed by its inability to curb dangerous behaviour. The question is whether authorities will enforce stricter penalties, enhance stadium security, or accept that pyrotechnics are an unavoidable cost of supporting the game.

The timing is particularly awkward for the Eredivisie, which has marketed itself as a safe, family-friendly alternative to leagues with higher-profile safety concerns. Yet the Cambuur incident proves that Dutch football is not immune to the chaos that has plagued other competitions. If the KNVB’s review leads only to temporary measures, the next flare could well land on the pitch—and the consequences could be far worse. The association’s own data shows that 68% of pyrotechnic incidents in Dutch stadiums over the past five years have involved organised supporter groups, with Feyenoord’s “Vak-K” section repeatedly flagged in internal reports.

With Feyenoord maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and Cambuur still searching for their first league win, the real losers are the fans who came to watch football, not fireworks. The Eredivisie must act decisively, or the next incident won’t just be a 20-minute delay—it could be a tragedy.

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