50 Vitesse Arnhem Fans Fall Ill After Smoke Bomb Incident

Around 50 Vitesse supporters became unwell after the match against De Graafschap, reportedly due to inhaling smoke from flares and smoke bombs thrown during the game.

In a second division match dominated by poor play and off-field drama, De Graafschap secured a 3-1 victory over Vitesse in a heated Gelderse derby that was briefly interrupted due to fireworks and smoke bombs.

Vitesse coach John van den Brom made several changes to his lineup, notably reconfiguring the defence. Mats Egbring’s absence due to injury saw Mees Kreekels start at right back, while captain Alexander Büttner was deployed as a left midfielder, and Roan van der Plaat stepped in as left back. These adjustments had little effect as both teams struggled to create clear chances in the opening stages.

The game’s turning point came in the 27th minute when referee Dennis Higler halted play after Vitesse fans ignited fireworks and smoke bombs, filling De Vijverberg with yellow smoke. The disruption escalated tensions between the two sets of supporters, with De Graafschap fans attempting to storm the away section before being restrained by stewards and police. Following a five-minute break, De Graafschap took control of the match.

In the 35th minute, Levi Schoppema started a counter-attack from his own half and found himself unmarked in Vitesse’s poorly organized defense, finishing from close range to give the Superboeren a 1-0 lead. The home crowd erupted with joy while Vitesse’s defence continued to struggle.

Vitesse had an opportunity to equalize just before halftime, but Gyan de Regt squandered a clear chance, shooting directly at De Graafschap’s goalkeeper Joshua Smits. Despite the miss, Vitesse continued to push after the break, but their efforts were hindered when Büttner was sent off for two reckless fouls within minutes, reducing the visitors to ten men.

Despite being down a man, Vitesse leveled the score in the 63rd minute through a stunning half-volley by Irakli Yegoian. The equalizer was short-lived, however, as De Graafschap regained the lead just four minutes later. Donny Warmerdam, who had come on as a substitute, headed in from a deflected cross, making it 2-1.

De Graafschap sealed the victory in the 75th minute when substitute Steffen fouled Warmerdam in the box, resulting in a penalty calmly converted by Ralf Seuntjens. The match ended 3-1, with De Graafschap fans celebrating their dominant performance in the Gelderse derby. Vitesse remains in 19th place with just four points from eight matches, while De Graafschap climbs to fourth, three points behind the leaders.

Following the Keuken Kampioen Divisie match in Doetinchem, approximately 40 kilometres from Arnhem, the Vitesse fans experienced symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and vomiting while travelling home by coach. Upon their arrival at the Gelredome stadium, ten ambulances were on standby to treat the affected fans. While three individuals were taken to the hospital, most were treated on-site and allowed to go home.

The Gelderland-Midden Safety Region confirmed that about 50 people became unwell during their journey home, suspecting that the cause could be smoke from “several smoke canisters that were thrown into the away section by De Graafschap supporters.”

A police spokesperson noted that while Vitesse supporters had also set off fireworks, determining the exact source of the harmful smoke is challenging. “It is very difficult to determine which smoke bomb caused someone to become unwell. The suspicion is that wind direction may have blown more smoke towards the away section. We will assess in the coming days whether further investigation is necessary.”

The symptoms first began for some people in the stadium. A spokesperson for the safety region added, “Ten people were already unwell in the stadium. Later, on six different buses, more people fell ill, though the drivers did not. This suggests the smoke bombs in the stadium were likely the cause.”

Fans were advised to stay in fresh air and consult a doctor if their symptoms persisted.

Supporters’ Association representative Susanne Wichhart called the situation “remarkable,” stating, “My personal experience is that such a smoke bomb can be more intense than fireworks. The penetrating smell lingers longer. A few years ago, supporters had to be treated by first aid personnel when we set off smoke bombs in a tunnel, but there were far fewer cases than this time.” She added, “It is very frightening. We were met by fire brigades and ambulances at the Gelredome. It was quickly suspected to be smoke poisoning. They are now investigating how the effects of these smoke bombs could be so severe.”

Site Opinion

The match between De Graafschap and Vitesse provided little excitement in terms of quality football, but the off-field events stole the headlines. De Graafschap deserved their victory, exploiting Vitesse’s defensive frailties and showing resilience in key moments, especially after the disruption caused by the smoke bombs.

From a safety perspective, the events at De Vijverberg are concerning. While fan atmosphere is part of the football experience, the use of fireworks and smoke bombs has now escalated to a point where it endangers supporters. Both clubs and the league must take swift action to address this growing issue to ensure that future matches do not see a repeat of the chaos witnessed in this derby. Fan safety must remain a priority.