Royal Antwerp FC saw a ban on its supporters attending the away match against Standard Liège overturned by local authorities on Saturday. The decision came on the day of the match itself, after Liège police updated their risk assessment. The league fixture at the Stade de Sclessin ultimately proceeded with Antwerp fans present.
The Liège police conducted a risk assessment ahead of the clash. Based on that evaluation, completed on Friday, authorities initially made a negative decision regarding away fans. This led to a prohibition for Antwerp supporters to enter the stadium. The office of Liège mayor Willy Demeyer announced that initial ruling.
Royal Antwerp FC reacted strongly to the original ban. The club called the measure "unprecedented and deeply disrespectful to the more than 1,000 fans expected to travel to Liège". Antwerp also warned that allowing local authorities to decide, so close to kick-off, whether supporters are welcome "would open the door to arbitrary decisions". The club feared a dangerous precedent.
On Saturday afternoon, hours before the 20:45 kick-off, the ban was revised. This U-turn was based on updated information from the Liège police and guarantees from the involved parties. The office of Mayor Demeyer announced the new, positive decision. This allowed Antwerp fans to finally travel to the Stade de Sclessin for the league encounter.
The timing of the entire process placed the club and its fans under significant pressure. Travel and tickets had already been arranged based on the expectation that access would be granted. The late communication created uncertainty and unrest ahead of an important match. Antwerp currently sits 10th in the Jupiler Pro League with 7 points from 5 games.
The case raises questions about procedures regarding safety and away fan access in Belgian football. Antwerp emphasized the importance of clear, timely communication and avoiding last-minute decisions that affect thousands of supporters. The club may raise this incident with competition regulators.
For Antwerp, the focus is now on the upcoming fixtures. The team has scored 10 goals and conceded 10 this season, resulting in a zero goal difference. They are six points behind leaders Union St. Gilloise in the title race. The next assignment is an away match against Club Brugge KV, who are second, on September 13, 2026. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page and follow the current standings.
