Standard Liège fans may face five-year stadium ban for Steven Defour banner
• Banner described as ‘tasteless, stupid and unacceptable’ by minister
• In video: Defour greeted by a banner showing a decapitated head
• Anderlecht’s Defour sees red over Standard Liège fans’ banner
Standard Liege fans display a banner featuring an illustration depicting the decapitation of Anderlecht midfielder Steven DefourBelgian authorities and the country’s football federation are seeking action against Standard Liège fans who displayed a massive banner showing a drawing of a beheaded Anderlecht player ahead of their weekend match.
The banner which said, Red or Dead, referred to the Standard colours and also showed a drawing of a masked man with a huge knife and the head of Anderlecht midfielder Steven Defour, who used to play for Standard before moving to arch rival Anderlecht.
The display caused much uproar and the interior ministry said that it is considering sanctions that can go as high as a five-year stadium ban and a fine of €5,000 (£3742) for each individual supporter involved. “We’re working together with police to catch as many of the authors of this banner as possible,” a spokeswoman for the interior ministry said on Monday.
The foreign minister, Didier Reynders already called the banner “tasteless, stupid and unacceptable.” Defour was sent off in the match that Standard won 2-0.
Yves Leterme, a Standard Liège supporter and former prime minister, also expressed his disappointment. “Standard-Anderlecht has been ruined by a minority of supporters. I remain a supporter but feel ashamed by the banner tonight,” he wrote on Twitter.
Guardian