Last Friday’s riots that broke out during the football derby between MVV Maastricht and Roda JC Kerkrade caused general outrage. The match – that only started after repeated warnings given over the stadium’s public address system not to throw fireworks – had to be abandoned just before half-time because supporters of both teams continued to throw fireworks and to fight with each other.

A riot police unit had to remove rioters from the football pitch.The injured included six police personnel and two Roda JC stewards. A total of ten arrests were made. A criminal investigation is currently underway and camera images are being examined.

Burgemeester Annemarie Penn-te Strake and MVV have issued a joint declaration announcing that the incident will have definite consequences for how future matches are conducted. A meeting between the Burgemeester, Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond – KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association), Politie Basisteam Maastricht and the public prosecution service held on 1 November discussed future developments.

In the meantime, other questions from local political groups have arisen over the matter, Would it not have been preferable to eject troublemakers from the stadium rather than to call off the match? Should the stadium not be modified to conform with current security requirements?