Football Rivalry plays Out in TV Game Show Betrayals
A heated football rivalry is extending beyond the pitch adn into the reality of Belgian television. The VTM program De Traiders, based on the game Werewolves of Wakkerdam, has seen the Antwerp-Beerschot conflict influence strategic decisions within the show, according to recent developments.
Criminal lawyer and royal Antwerp FC supporter Omar Souidi, a contestant on the program, eliminated his friend and TV chef Roger van Damme during a recent episode. Souidi justified the move by citing van Damme’s willingness to wear a purple sweater – the color associated with Antwerp’s rival, Beerschot – during a challenge.
“There was actually only one big, justified reason to banish you,” Souidi stated in footage from the show. “During the mission you agreed to put on a purple sweater.You know that something like an Antwerp fan can know something like that but one result: the eternal banning.”
The program also features former football player Olivier Deschacht, who has previously played for the Red Devils, Zulte Waregem, and Anderlecht, and has already navigated eliminations within the game. Vincent Fierens, an Antwerp FC supporter who hosts post-program discussions, adds another layer of football fandom to the show’s dynamic.
