chaos in deventer: ijsselderby uitgesteld door maskers en vuurwerk
Deventer, zondag, 5 april 2026.
De IJsselderby tussen Go Ahead Eagles en PEC Zwolle is zondag plotseling uitgesteld. Reden: honderden PEC-supporters droegen gezichtsbedekking in het uitvak. Die was verboden, om veiligheid te garanderen. De club probeerde zelf in te grijpen. Aanvoerder Ryan Thomas en directeur Joost Broerse spraken de fans toe. Het hielp niet. Vuurgevechten met vuurwerk volgden. Scheidsrechter Danny Makkelie greep in. “Als dit tijdens de wedstrijd was gebeurd, had je grote problemen”, zei hij. De ME ontruimde het vak. De wedstrijd ging later toch door. Maar zonder publiek in het uitvak. Een zeldzaam beeld in het Nederlandse betaald voetbal. De sfeer bleef elektrisch, lang nadat de fans weg waren.
delayed kickoff amid security concerns
The Eredivisie match between Go Ahead Eagles and PEC Zwolle on April 5, 2026, started late due to safety issues [1]. Fans of PEC Zwolle entered the away section at the Adelaarshorst stadium wearing face coverings [2]. This violated prior agreements made between the clubs and local authorities regarding supporter conduct [3]. Despite warnings, many refused to remove them [1]. The situation escalated quickly, forcing officials to act before kickoff could proceed [2]. Safety protocols were activated under guidance from the regional safety board [3].
club leadership intervenes directly
Ryan Thomas, captain of PEC Zwolle, approached the stands to speak with fans personally [1]. Club director Joost Broerse joined him in urging compliance [4]. They asked supporters to take off their masks to allow the game to begin [1]. Their appeal failed to resolve the issue [2]. Broerse confirmed that clear rules had been communicated beforehand [3]. He expressed disappointment that additional measures became necessary [4]. “We have done everything upfront,” he stated, emphasizing preventive efforts [3].
security forces step in decisively
When dialogue failed, authorities ordered the evacuation of the away section [1]. Members of the Marine Unit (ME) moved in to enforce the decision [2]. Approximately 400 visiting supporters were removed from the stadium [3]. The intervention followed incidents of fireworks being thrown onto the field [4]. Referee Danny Makkelie supported the action, noting such behavior would have disrupted play if left unchecked [1]. “There was no compliance. The stand will now be cleared,” he said [3].
match proceeds without away fans
After partial clearance of the stands, players returned for a second warm-up lasting ten minutes [2]. The game eventually kicked off around 13:00 CET, more than forty-five minutes past its scheduled time [1]. Notably, the away section remained empty following the eviction [4]. Organizers prioritized safety despite the disruption to routine proceedings [3]. Fans who complied with orders may return later, but conditions prevented immediate re-entry [2]. The atmosphere stayed tense even after fan removal [1].
broader implications for league policy
This event marks a rare instance where an Eredivisie fixture began without full spectator presence in one stand [GPT]. Previous discussions focused on preventing similar disruptions through stricter pre-match coordination [3]. Both clubs sit outside relegation danger—Go Ahead Eagles with 32 points, PEC Zwolle with 33 ahead of this clash—removing competitive urgency [2]. Still, regional rivalries heighten emotional stakes regardless of table position [GPT]. Officials plan post-event reviews to assess future risk management strategies [4].