Stijn Meert (44) has been a trainer at KM Torhout since the summer of last year. — © VDB
Stijn Meert, former professional football player at KV Kortrijk and Anderlecht, among others, was sentenced on Wednesday by the police court to a three-month driving ban and a fine of 2,400 euros for driving under the influence of cocaine. At KM Torhout, where Meert has been a trainer since last summer, they fell completely out of the blue and they want to sit around the table with their convicted trainer on Thursday.
Koen Verdruye
Stijn Meert (44) has been a trainer at KM Torhout since the summer of last year. He had only been employed for a few months when he was convicted in early September 2021 for causing a minor traffic accident. Meert had 2.09 per mille alcohol in the blood and was banned from driving for two months. He also had to have an alcohol interlock installed in his car for a year. At KM Torhout there was never a fuss about the matter because it fell into the private sphere of the coach. In the end, KM Torhout was promoted from third to second division via the final round.
Driving ban
With 4 out of 15, we can hardly speak of a successful start this season, but the biggest problem surfaced on Wednesday morning. The trainer, who is a PE teacher and who is also known as the organizer of the Hype’O Dream music festival in Waregem, was caught behind the wheel under the influence of cocaine some time ago. Taking into account his previous convictions in 2013 and 2021, the Kortrijk police judge was still lenient by now giving Meert a three-month driving ban and a fine of 2,400 euros. He must also undergo a medical and psychological examination if he wants to get his driver’s license back.
“Listen first”
You think it is classified, but Meert is a public figure as a trainer and ex-pro player of KV Kortrijk, Anderlecht, STVV and Zulte Waregem and the verdict leaked out. At KM Torhout they knew nothing about it, but they saw the news popping up everywhere. Sporting manager Didier Degomme declined to comment and Stijn Meert himself was unreachable. Chairman Dick D’Hoore will be in Spain until late Wednesday evening, but he did respond.
“This is of course a regrettable and not so fresh matter. We don’t know anything about it officially, because Stijn hasn’t told us anything about this,” said chairman Dick D’Hoore. “Of course we have discussed internally for a while and decided not to make any statements now. We first want to talk to Stijn and hear his view on the facts. Perhaps he should have told us something beforehand, but we also want to discuss that with our coach first. Can he still be maintained as a trainer? It is impossible for me to say that now and it depends not only on me but on our entire board. I may still think that everyone always deserves a second chance, but if the majority has a different opinion, I have to accept that as chairman. But again, we mainly want to listen first and then we discuss what needs to be done. If it is all confirmed, it is of course not nothing and questions arise, also with me. Talking to Stijn is now a priority and then we’ll see.” (kv)
