SC Cambuur has confirmed that several supporters sustained burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries after visiting Feyenoord fans launched fireworks during a league match in Leeuwarden, Friesland. The incident occurred on Sunday, forcing a 20-minute suspension of play during the first half as flares and pyrotechnics were thrown from the away section.
The chaos escalated when projectiles were aimed at home supporters, while one flare exploded on the pitch near Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst. Feyenoord general manager Robert Eenhoorn described the situation as “simply terrible,” noting that his own goalkeeper narrowly avoided being struck by a flare.
In a statement released Monday, Cambuur confirmed five fans were injured and pledged to cooperate with authorities to identify those responsible. The club emphasized that the use of fireworks in stadiums is “completely unacceptable.” Leeuwarden Mayor Foort van Oosten has condemned the violence and initiated an investigation into the event.
Although the match continued following the disruption, officials noted that the game would have been abandoned had a player or referee been struck. Jan Bluyssen, manager of professional football competition affairs for the Dutch football association (KNVB), admitted the current situation “doesn’t feel right.” He confirmed the association will review its safety protocols to determine if adjustments are necessary to prevent future disorder.
On the pitch, Feyenoord secured a 5-2 victory, maintaining their undefeated start to the season. Conversely, the loss marks a difficult beginning for newly promoted Cambuur, who have now been defeated in all three of their opening league fixtures. The report also notes that the match on Sunday was halted for about 20 minutes in the first half when fans in the away section lit large numbers of red flares and threw fireworks.
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