In August violence flared after the Europa Conference League qualifying match between Club Brugge and Aarhus. According to Danish police, a gang of Club Brugge supporters punched and kicked a 14-year-old Aarhus fan. They also allegedly took his football shirt. Shortly afterwards, the police arrested the Club Brugge fan from Jabbeke. They say that they found the 14-year-old victim’s shirt on him, along with a balaclava and a mouthguard.
Danish court sentences West Flemish football hooligan to 5 months’ imprisonment
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However, the West Fleming’s lawyer Franky Baert says that the account given by the Danish police is not correct.
"A group of fans got into an argument with a Danish boy after the match. There was no question at all that he was involved. Moreover, my client was not convicted of theft of the shirt or for assault and battery, only for being part of a gang and for the possession of a balaclava."
"A heavy verdict"
The Club Brugge fan denies any wrong-doing. However, a court in Denmark has sentenced him. The West Fleming has been on remand since early August. "That has been almost two months. I had hoped that the period he has spent on remand would be sufficient, but that has turned out not to be the case. In two weeks we can submit a request to have him released", Mr Baert told VRT News.
"We will lodge an appeal. However, we have little hope that the verdict will be overturned. Scandinavian countries are quite strict on matters like this”.
The 18-year-old was the only Club Brugge fan arrested after the incident in which dozens of football supporters were involved.