Strict identity checks and more than 170 officers deployed in Beveren for a risk match against Beerschot (Beveren-Waas)

If they win at the Freethiel, Beerschot can play champions on the SK Beveren field on Sunday. In any case, it is a high-risk match, where both the club and law enforcement take extra security measures. In addition to the deployment of 178 agents, ticket sales are also closely monitored to avoid confrontations between the two camps.

Kiel, home of Beerschot, is a stone’s throw from Beveren. It will therefore not be surprising that many Beerschot supporters are trying to get a ticket to help their team win the title in 1B. “The police have imposed various measures on our club,” says COO of SK Beveren Bart Foubert. “Visiting supporters are only allowed to sit in the visitors’ section. Because there is so much demand for tickets and the away section is sold out, away supporters try to get tickets for other stands. Ticket sales for our own supporters are only online. For this you need an account that has been active since before March 1.” (Read more below the photo)

The police also monitor who is trying to get a ticket. “The police have a list of names of Beerschot subscribers,” says Bart Foubert. “We forward our list of people who bought a ticket for the match to the police, who then compares these names with Beerschot subscribers. If they see that a Beerschot subscriber has purchased a ticket for the upcoming match, they will be excluded. Beerschot, unlike SK Beveren, is having a fantastic season. It would be strange if many Beerschot supporters would jump up at a goal by their team in our own stands. To prevent frustrations and guarantee the safety of our own fans, we take these measures to heart.”

Beaver mayor Marc Van de Vijver (CD&V) confirms that these measures are being taken at the request of the police. “In high-risk competitions such as these, various security measures are taken as standard in consultation with the federal police and OCAD,” says Van de Vijver. “To guarantee safety in and outside the stadium, we work together with the federal police, who provide many officers. That will be more than 170 in total. Everyone will therefore have to show their identity card when they want to enter the stadium.”

The nerves are not only tense organizationally, because SK Beveren is still playing to get a place in the final round in order to force promotion to first division football. SK Beveren will play against Beerschot on Sunday at 2:30 PM. 3,500 tickets have already been sold, including subscribers.

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