Three Club Brugge supporters will only return to Belgium on Monday after a striking incident in Kazakhstan. The fans were arrested after the Champions League match against Kairat Almaty, where their action was deemed offensive by local authorities.
During the match, which Club Brugge comfortably controlled, the three Walloon supporters decided to take off their clothes until only a bright green mankini remained. The action clearly referred to the film Borat, which focuses on satire about Kazakhstan. What was a fun stunt for the fans was interpreted differently by the local police. The supporters were arrested and taken to the police station.
After a judge’s ruling, the supporters were told on Wednesday that they would be detained. According to Matthieu, a friend who is staying in Kazakhstan, they are currently locked up in a prison in Astana. “I was not allowed to see them in person, but an employee of the Belgian embassy did visit. They are in one cell together and are doing well,” he said. The Importance of Limburg.
Fines paid, return postponed
With the help of the Belgian embassy, the fines have now been paid, amounting to almost twenty euros per person. In addition, Matthieu, together with the embassy, provided basic necessities such as toilet paper, water and laundry supplies. Originally, the four friends were supposed to return to Belgium on Friday, but in the end only Matthieu will take that flight. The three arrested supporters returned home on Monday morning.
In episode 25 of the second season of Tijd voor Voetbal, we discuss the remarkable VAR decisions in Belgium, the difficult start of Club Brugge and the loss of RSC Anderlecht against KAA Gent. That and much more in Time for Football.
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