Shock reigns as fireworks from Feyenoord away end leaves five injured

Feyenoord fans set off flares and fireworks from under a banner, then threw fireworks around. Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst was close to a flare but was unscathed, while 5 Cambuur fans were left injured by the away fans' actions.

"What should have been a footballing spectacle between Cambuur and Feyenoord was marred this afternoon in the twelfth minute by the widespread setting off of fireworks," Cambuur said in a club statement.

"From the away section in the South Stand, Feyenoord ‘supporters’ not only set off fireworks, but also fired them towards the pitch and the surrounding stands."

The away end in Cambuur's new Kooi Stadion is located next to the family stand. The fans were left with burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries, according to the club.

The game was suspended for 30 minutes, but was resumed as fans are not included in the fireworks protocol, which states that the match is permanently suspended when players, staff members, or officials are struck by fireworks from the stands.

'I hope they're ashamed'

Speaking to ESPN about the incident, Feyenoord director Robert Eenhoorn called it a "terrible incident."

"Of course, it’s particularly awful for the number of injured Cambuur supporters. I don’t understand what prompted it either, because normally you do hear something about it beforehand."

The perpetrators, who covered their faces with balaclavas, will be found and sanctioned, Eenhoorn assured: "Those responsible will receive stadium bans as soon as they’ve been identified.

"We could talk about this for ages, but it’s simply appalling. Supporters in the family stand are getting injured. Our own goalkeeper had a flare fired at him and only just managed to dodge it. I hope those responsible for this are ashamed of themselves."

The league committee released a statement on the KNVB's X account condemning the actions in Leeuwarden.

"Setting off fireworks in the stadium is prohibited, harmful to health, dangerous and runs completely counter to what football is all about. It harms players, officials, and supporters, and can also lead to serious consequences, as in the case of the supporters who were hit by the fireworks. Anyone found guilty of this has no place in the stadium. Football is better off without these people."