Sunday 17th October 2021
Fans just keep celebrating
Fully occupied grandstand collapses when cheering
As if by a miracle, there are no injuries: after the game between Nijmegen and Arnhem, a grandstand in the stadium collapses. Arnhem fans celebrate the 1-0 victory in the Gelderse derby with the players. As they tumble down, they just keep partying. The city of Nijmegen is initiating investigations.
After the enthusiasm of Arnhem football fans, some of the stands in the stadium in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, collapsed. After the 1-0 success with a goal by the Dane Nikolai Baden Fredriksen against NEC Nijmegen, the supporters jumped in rhythm, whereupon the six to seven lower ranks slumped. But they were caught by a container below. According to initial findings, no one was injured, reported the Dutch news agency ANP. The ranks above remained intact.
After winning the Gelderse Derby, the Vitesse players celebrated with their own fans in front of the grandstand in the Goffert Stadium and jumped on the field, the fans did too – and the stands collapsed. But that didn’t stop fans and players from cheering. “Fortunately, as far as is known, no one has been injured,” said Nijmegen’s mayor Hubert Bruls. “I want an investigation into what happened here as soon as possible.” Bruls had watched the game with his colleague from Arnhem.
“As far as I know, there are no injuries,” said NEC director Wilco van Schaik, as the public broadcaster NOS reported. The container that stood under the grandstand prevented worse things from happening. Vitesse Arnheim, who currently occupies sixth place in the table in the Ereddivise, will be in one of the most modern stadiums in Europe during the week. In London they face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Conference League game.