“I don’t remember anything about it,” K. said in a soft voice during the hearing. “It all went very quickly. Before I knew it I was on the ground and I was taken away by the security guards.”
The PSV hooligan was not allowed to be in the stadium at all due to an earlier ban, he knew that himself. According to a report from PSV in the criminal file, K. would have used a card from someone else. But K. did not want to comment on that. He did say he wanted to show the boys with whom he went to the stadium ‘that he was back’. Something that led to misunderstanding by the Public Prosecution Service and the judge.
‘Drunk a lot’
In his verdict, the judge indicated that he would take into account the impact that the action had on K. himself. The judge also issued another area ban around the PSV stadium for two years.
The Public Prosecutor had previously demanded the same punishment. K. indicated during the hearing that he had drunk a lot of beer at the time of his act. After his arrest, it turned out to be a blood alcohol level of 1.6.
Dismissed
K.’s action led to his dismissal at work and he was expelled from a PSV supporters association.
The man was charged with assault and violating an area ban by the Public Prosecution Service. The judge agreed. In 2021 and 2022 he already received community service twice for violations around football matches.
K. himself seemed to understand little of his deed. “I think I thought it was kind of tough and funny,” he said. “Which it really isn’t at all. I’m sorry about that. It was super stupid.” Despite his expressions of regret, the Public Prosecution Service and the judge seemed to have difficulty going along with this. “You don’t show the back of your tongue,” the prosecutor said.
No reporting obligation
The municipality of Eindhoven previously informed RTL Nieuws that K. had deliberately not been imposed a reporting obligation. “When the area ban was imposed in December 2021, no notification obligation was chosen from the point of view of proportionality.”
According to K., the lack of going to ‘his club’ was partly the basis for violating the stadium ban. “PSV is actually the only thing I like to do in my weekend besides my normal life. I missed that so much, I just wanted to go there. I don’t know what got into me.”
The Public Prosecution Service said that with the demand it wanted to send a clear signal to the increasing violence among supporters and also to take into account the fact that K. has already been convicted of football hooliganism. The prosecutor also indicated that he takes into account the threats that K. has received in recent times after his action.
In addition, the OM drew a comparison with the Ajax hooligan who attacked the keeper of AZ during a cup match in 2011.
urge to prove
According to K.’s lawyer, he has a ‘relentless urge to prove’ and he would like to belong. Also, he would like to be funny for his friends. “Youthful bravura, proof, peer pressure and excessive alcohol were the basis of this.”
K.’s mother read a statement through his lawyer: “He was just doing so well. He went to work every day. Until this day our world was suddenly turned upside down. We were shocked and disappointed. No one knows why. This is not acceptable. But I hope he gets a chance to get back to the life he was doing so well.”
