Feyenoord fans throw fireworks at rival supporters, injuring five in Leeuwarden

Five SC Cambuur supporters were burned, deafened or left with eye injuries after Feyenoord fans threw fireworks into the home end during Sunday’s Eredivisie match at Leeuwarden, forcing a 20-minute suspension of play in the first half. One device detonated on the pitch just metres from Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.

Feyenoord general manager Robert Eenhoorn called the scenes “simply terrible”, noting that his own goalkeeper had a flare fired directly at him and only narrowly avoided being struck. Cambuur confirmed the five injuries in a statement on Monday and pledged to work with authorities to identify those responsible.

“It should be clear that setting off and firing fireworks is completely unacceptable and has no place in a football stadium whatsoever,” the club said.

Leeuwarden mayor Foort van Oosten condemned the incident and promised an investigation. The Dutch football association (KNVB) said it would review its crowd-disorder protocols after the match was allowed to continue despite injuries in the stands — a decision that would only have been reversed had a player or official been hit.

“That doesn’t feel right,” said Jan Bluyssen, KNVB manager of professional football competition affairs, speaking to Dutch news agency ANP. “We need to examine whether the protocol is still appropriate and how we might want to adjust it.”

Feyenoord went on to win the match 5-2, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season. Newly promoted Cambuur have now lost all three of their opening fixtures.

The incident echoes a similar episode from last season, when an Eredivisie match between Ajax and Groningen was abandoned after fans ignited fireworks and flares behind one of the goalposts within the opening five minutes. Attempts to restart that game were met with further disorder before the referee called it off entirely.

“Ajax considers what happened in the stadium this evening to be utterly outrageous,” the Amsterdam club said at the time. “The safety of spectators and players has been put at risk. That is unacceptable. Fireworks do not belong in the stadium.”