“Tougher sanctions are on the way”: Lorin Parys, CEO of Pro League, repeats intent after fan violence in Seraing (which remains in 1A) | Jupiler Pro League

At Seraing, Kilota ultimately turned out to be insufficiently fit to make his comeback and an unchanged team started. RWDM did not immediately call on the fast Nzuzi, who was suspended for the first leg, and Ephestion was replaced in the base by El Ouahdi.

The home team immediately threw in the punch. Not two minutes away Marius did not react quickly enough to convert an action by Poaty and Mikautadze. The Metallo’s drive to get the job done quickly was interrupted only by a surprising sway from Hazard. And a drink break after sunset (Ramadan). Then happened what coach Jean-François Garcia van Seraing feared beforehand. RWDM grew in the match and came close to tying twice (over the two games). El Ouahdi aimed wide and Opare cleared the line after a miss by Dietsch.

The end of the first half went in favor of Seraing. Mikautadze threatened, Jallow popped, Defourny saved. 0-0 after a first half that was experienced nervously on both benches and inspired ref Lardot to show his yellow card several times, quite rightly.

And the atmosphere? Thrilling, like in the first leg. What a difference with last year when Seraing and Waasland-Beveren played the jump-offs.

The pace slowed down a bit after the break. Working hard in midfield, yes, but only a small threat. In minute 59 Hazard made an action that De Camargo only brought for goalkeeper Dietsch. The ball bounced and Igor stumbled. Gone the chance to scare Seraing the shiver.

With Cachbach replacing Marius, coach Garcia opted for more certainty. A sharp cross from Hazard — a good match — was stopped by Dietsch in two times. As the end drew near, it all became a deck for the Metallos, but no matter how RWDM insisted — fiercer as time wore on; gripping in the six minutes of added time — scoring failed.

After the final whistle, the field was overwhelmed by resolutely reacting Molenbeek fans. Too bad for the image of RWDM. “This is a real pity and not good for football”, condemned RWDM keeper Théo Defourny for the scenes in front of Eleven’s microphone. “Due to corona, we often had to play in front of empty stands. Now there are people again and we see this, very sad. We know we have good supporters, but it’s a shame a few hotheads ruin it.”

Lorin Parys, the CEO of the Pro League, responded on Twitter: “Fans who break their own windows, commit aggression and damage the sport do not belong in a stadium. Point. Stricter sanctions are on the way.”

Last month, Lorin Parys already announced that stricter sanctions are being worked on that all clubs can introduce at the start of the new season. He said that in response to riots that Beerschot supporters had caused in the Union stadium on the final day of the regular competition. “Safety is a priority for me. That is why I am currently working with the relevant services on stricter sanctions that we will introduce with all our clubs at the start of the new season,” said Parys.

It was Igor De Camargo’s last match as a professional footballer, he now returns to Brazil to spend time with his family. “Too bad about the result, we expected more,” he said at Eleven. “But I also want to congratulate this team. These guys come from far and it is already an achievement that we were in these jump-offs. The board has done a great job and I wish RWDM all the best for the future.”

De Camargo missed a good chance after the break, on the pass of a strong Hazard. “Oh, I can’t say much about that. It is of course a pity that the ball did not go in and that we did not promote. But it’s part of it. I do realize that this was my last match. The result is unfortunate, but it doesn’t change my career as far as I’m concerned. I remain very proud of what I have achieved.”