Etienne Vaessen explains altercation after Guatemala v Suriname match

Etienne Vaessen Explains FC Groningen Clash After Guatemala Defeat

FC Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen published a statement on his club’s official website addressing a post-match physical and verbal altercation involving Guatemala players and staff following a 1-0 Nations League match between Guatemala and Suriname.

Video footage circulated widely on social media platforms after the final whistle, capturing Vaessen engaging in physical shoves with multiple Guatemala players and coaching staff members while leaving the pitch. The footage also showed the goalkeeper making an obscene gesture directed at the crowd. In his published statement, Vaessen addressed his actions directly.

“I should have been sensible and should have walked away. But I stood up for my team-mates and I think that is very human. As a person, you are vulnerable when injustice is done and no action is taken against it,” Vaessen stated on the club website.

Racism Allegations and Agreement to Walk Off Pitch

According to Vaessen’s account, players and staff members from both national squads reached a pre-arranged consensus to walk straight off the field immediately following the final whistle due to severe racist abuse directed at the Suriname team. Discussions regarding a complete abandonment of the fixture occurred briefly during the contest. Vaessen noted that individual Guatemala players offered apologies during active play for the conduct of their supporters.

That dynamic shifted when Guatemala scored the decisive goal in stoppage time. “They scored the winner shortly before time and after the final whistle they still went over to thank the crowd at length, and when we went over to confront them, they called us a ‘shit country’ and pushing and shoving broke out. We should have kept ourselves under control and stayed away from this situation, but unfortunately we did not manage to do that,” Vaessen said.

The goalkeeper described an intense hostile environment throughout the match. “We were provoked from the first minute and the most terrible racist things were shouted at us. It was as if we were playing football in a cage from which we could not escape,” Vaessen detailed.

Return to Club Duties in the Netherlands

Vaessen confirmed in his statement that he has returned to the Netherlands and rejoined FC Groningen following the international window. The club prepares for an away fixture against Excelsior in Rotterdam scheduled for the upcoming Sunday.

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