Berlin prepared for the arrival of thousands of Feyenoord supporters | Football

sport">The Berlin police cannot and will not make an estimate of the expected number of Dutch people and keeps it at a “four digit number.” A spokesperson speaks of a ‘high-risk competition’.

sport">At least 5200 Feyenoord fans have bought a ticket for the match in the Olympiastadion through the club. But it is expected that several thousand supporters will still travel to Berlin without a card, hoping to find a ticket for a course with German supporters on the spot or via the internet.

sport">The Rotterdam club management does not know how many supporters actually travel. Toon van Bodegom, chairman of the supervisory board, said he was pleased that Union has made so many tickets available. However, he is also concerned about possible disturbances.

sport">Some of Feyenoord’s supporters have a bad reputation. In 2015, for example, a group of hooligans caused millions of euros in damage during the European away game against AS Roma in riots around the Barcaccia fountain. Dozens of arrests were made. Those riots caused a lot of commotion in Italy and the Netherlands.

sport">That hard core already showed its worst side two weeks ago, a day before Feyenoord’s home game against Union Berlin. A group attacked the board of the German club, which was present in a Rotterdam catering business.

sport">Union board and supporters are angry about the behavior of the Rotterdam police on match day. Several riot police were injured and about 75 Germans were arrested. The Union supporters’ association speaks of “completely unacceptable police brutality against fans on their way to the stadium.” They are also angry that hundreds of fans were held up for a long time at the access control and some were only able to enter De Kuip during half-time. Feyenoord and Union discuss the events of two weeks ago in the run-up to Thursday’s game.

—