Actually, no PSV supporters are allowed to be present at the away match against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday evening, but Remco Goossens will try anyway. He has bought tickets for the home section and hopes to be able to support his club from the stands in the Parc des Princes tonight. But of course that is not without risks. “They shouldn’t talk to me,” he says.
A week before the match against PSG, PSV supporters were told that they were not welcome in Paris. This was partly due to earlier riots in the French city of Lens. Even though the supporters successfully challenged this ban in summary proceedings, an area ban remained in place.
However, some PSV supporters have traveled to Paris and are trying in all kinds of ways to get a seat in the stadium. This also applies to Remco Goossens. He is in the French capital with a friend.
“As soon as they ask something in French, I fear I will quickly be exposed.”
“After it became known that we were not allowed to sit in the away section, I started buying tickets online. Using a VPN (which in this case allows you to surf via a French IP address, making it look like you are in France, ed.) I pretended I was from Paris. Then I could buy tickets in my own name.”
And so Remco seems to be able to ‘normally’ support his club on Tuesday evening. “What I understand is that I am not allowed to express myself as a PSV supporter around the stadium. But they shouldn’t talk to me. As soon as they ask me something in French, I fear that I will quickly be exposed. I don’t speak a word of French.”
Remco Goossens on Monday evening at the Eiffel Tower (photo: Remco Goossens).
“So it is hoped that I will not stand out during the search. I have to act as French as possible. And if I do get caught, I’ll just go look around the city.”
But if he does manage to enter the stadium, the 44-year-old supporter from Borculo, in the Achterhoek, hopes to be able to restrain himself. “I think it will be difficult for me to hide my joy when PSV scores. I won’t be able to suppress a laugh anyway, but I might cheer out of emotion. First let’s see if they score at all, that will be very difficult.”
“I follow PSV everywhere, then you also want to go to this match.”
It is expected that Remco is not the only PSV supporter who has tickets for the home section. Several supporters bought tickets for the match through various detours. Whether they all come in will become clear on Tuesday evening.
For the time being, Remco has not regretted his choice to go to Paris. “Although I don’t think this city is that special. But this match should not be missed. I follow PSV everywhere, then you also want to go to this match. I’m looking forward to it.”
