Cup tie erupts into chaos as riot police called in after mass brawl on pitch

A football match in the Netherlands descended into chaos when riot police stormed the pitch to quell a mass brawl between two sets of supporters. The extraordinary scenes took place during a Dutch Cup fixture between Den Bosch and Den Haag. The first-round encounter was fraught with tension until things boiled over in the second half, requiring a police intervention.

Den Haag were leading 3-2 when tempers flared between the two sets of supporters on 57 minutes. Local reports said that visiting supporters tried to storm the pitch, sparking a furious reaction from Den Bosch fans. A small number managed to break through and started making their way towards the away end, while others were halted by stewards.

Things continued to get out of hand, though, with fireworks being hurled onto the pitch as rioters and stewards continued to clash.

Eventually, a unit of police officers wielding batons and riot shields got involved. Some officers had dogs, with one video showing a fan being bitten on the leg. It was also reported that a steward received a bite to the hand.

The situation was so hopelessly out of control that the local mayor got involved, ordering the match to be suspended until Den Haag fans had been removed from the stadium.

Order was finally restored after 90 minutes of madness and the game was allowed to continue. Den Bosch went on to equalise before winning a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the second round of the Dutch Cup.

Football violence has been a growing issue in the Netherlands in recent years, with Dutch justice minister Dilan Yesilgoz describing it as a 'multi-headed monster that's not easy to eradicate' in a letter to parliament in 2023.

Jan Brouwer, a law professor who specialises in the study of football violence at Groningen University, previously said that increased reports of disorder meant the problem was 'getting more intense'.

One of the reasons behind the surge in violence was a change in the hierarchy of hardcore or so-called 'ultra' football hooligans, he said.

"A lot of people at the top, having had enough, have left, while a lot of young new supporters have been added at the bottom," he told public broadcaster NOS.

"There now is a type of anarchy in place and after stadium access was prohibited (during the pandemic), they are now hungry for a bit of resistance."