Last week’s Europa League game against Real Sociedad was marked by incidents by some ‘supporters’ in the visitors' stand of the Reale Arena. First and foremost, RSC Anderlecht heavily condemns this unacceptable behaviour and issued its apologies to Real Sociedad and its fans immediately after the game.
RSC Anderlecht will not await a possible sanction by UEFA and is taking its own measures. In cooperation with the Spanish and Belgian police forces, eight persons involved have been identified, five of whom were directly involved in damaging the stadium infrastructure and throwing projectiles into Real Sociedad's stands. With immediate effect, these individuals will be banned from our stadium and from all away games. They will also be held liable for the damages suffered. Analysis of the camera images is still ongoing and may lead to further identifications of those involved.
As the identified persons are members of the fan group Mauves Army (MA03), the club is also taking further sanctions against the fan group in question. Mauves Army will already be banned from the remaining trips in the League Phase of the Europa League and will also not be allowed to travel to the next three away games against Beerschot, Club Brugge and Tubize (Croky Cup). The tickets freed up by the absence of supporter group Mauves Army will be made available to other fans in order to experience an away game.
The club stresses that it will never tolerate such behaviour and will always take appropriate sanctions against the ones involved.
