zoon columniste candan aangevallen na explosieve voetbalcolumn
Groningen, woensdag, 3 juni 2026.
De zoon van columniste Yesim Candan is aangevallen in Amsterdam met een kettingslot. De aanval volgt op een controversiële column over een incident bij jeugdvoetbalclub ASV De Dijk. Daarin noemde Candan het beledigen van een vrouwelijke scheidsrechter ‘ontluisterend’. Na publicatie ontving Het Parool een dreigbrief gericht aan haar zoon. De politie onderzoekt een mogelijke motivering door haat of woede over de tekst. Journalistenorganisatie PersVeilig noemt het een zeldzaam geweldsuitbarsting tegen familie van een journalist. Burgemeester Femke Halsema spreekt van een “grove misdaad”. Candan reageerde geschokt: “Ik ben echt ontdaan.”
attack in amsterdam after controversial column
The son of prominent columnist Yesim Candan was physically attacked in Amsterdam on Tuesday evening, reportedly struck with a bicycle chain lock [1]. The assault occurred shortly after Candan published a sharply critical column in Het Parool addressing an incident during a youth football match involving multicultural club ASV De Dijk [1]. In her piece, she condemned players who insulted a female referee, calling it an ‘embarrassing spectacle’ and criticizing systemic failures in youth football oversight [1]. The timing suggests a direct connection between the column and the violence against her family member [1].
threats precede violent retaliation
Following the publication of Candan’s column, Het Parool received a threatening letter explicitly targeting her son [1]. The message read: “Look carefully behind you, just like your whore’s son!” [1]. This escalation underscores the risks journalists face when covering sensitive social issues, particularly those touching on integration and behavior in multicultural communities [1]. The police are investigating potential hate motives alongside reactions provoked by the content of the column itself [1]. Candan confirmed feeling deeply shaken but offered no further personal details through social media [1].
institutional responses condemn violence
Journalistic safety organization PersVeilig described the attack as exceptionally alarming due to its indirect nature, stating publicly that they cannot recall another instance where a relative of a journalist was assaulted in such a manner [1]. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema strongly denounced the act, labeling it ‘abhorrent, a grave crime, and unacceptable’ [1]. Meanwhile, ASV De Dijk leadership expressed shock and disapproval, with chairman Kamber Sener emphasizing cooperation with authorities and distancing the club from the perpetrators: “This is naturally horrifying; we also want to know who stands behind this” [1].
broader debate on accountability and safety
Candan used her platform to question why young athletes who intimidate referees often receive insufficient sanctions, asking why parents known to disrupt matches continue attending games weekly [1]. She warned such actions reinforce harmful stereotypes faced by bi-cultural youth [1]. Her concerns reflect ongoing debates about discipline in grassroots sports and the protection of officials, especially women, in male-dominated environments [1]. While ASV De Dijk took disciplinary action post-incident, including suspending an underage player and accepting apologies directed at the referee, the physical retaliation against Candan’s son marks a dangerous new dimension in public discourse around these issues [1].