Royal Antwerp Football Club is furious after the mayor of Liège banned all its away fans from attending Saturday's league match against Standard Liège. The decision, communicated to the club on Friday afternoon, was labelled 'unprecedented and totally disrespectful' by RAFC, which had over a thousand supporters planning to travel.
The match at the Stade de Sclessin is scheduled for 20:45 on Saturday. The mayor cited insufficient police personnel to guarantee safety as the reason for the ban. Antwerp, also known as The Great Old, immediately issued a statement condemning the move, a report first covered by Sporza.
Antwerp fears the last-minute announcement sets a dangerous precedent for local authorities. The club argues it allows municipalities to ban supporters shortly before matches, leaving clubs no time to respond or find alternatives. This undermines planning and the trust of fans who had already booked travel and tickets.
RAFC has stated it will seek reimbursement from the city of Liège for costs related to bus transport, ticket sales, and similar expenses. The financial impact is direct and significant. Antwerp is also reviewing its position for the return fixture later this season, in consultation with all involved parties.
For the Antwerp squad, the ban serves as extra motivation. They view it as a sign of disrespect and are determined to take the three points back to Deurne-Noord. The team currently sits ninth in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from four games. Their recent form is LDWW, having scored ten goals and conceded nine this season.
The title race is tight, with Antwerp trailing leaders Charleroi by five points. Their next fixture on the standings is an away match against fourth-placed Club Brugge KV on September 13, 2026. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
The incident highlights ongoing debates about safety and fan access in Belgian football. A ban of this scale, announced so late, is unprecedented according to Antwerp. The club stresses it always works constructively with authorities and opponents to establish safety plans.
This sudden turn of events puts that cooperation under strain. It raises questions about communication and planning between cities, police, and football clubs. RAFC hopes this is an isolated case and does not start a trend for other local governments.
The focus for the players and staff is now entirely on Saturday's sporting challenge. With eight points from four matches, Standard Liège is a direct mid-table rival. Season-long statistics for both teams can be followed on our stats page. The return match in Antwerp will take place later this season, but the conditions for that game are now under review.
