Antwerp FC fans react to new regime with mixed feelings
Antwerp FC is starting a new chapter under Wouter Vandenhaute, but the supporters' federation remains cautious. The club currently sits top of the Jupiler Pro League with zero points, after a season that began with zero goals scored and conceded. The new ownership group gets time to prove they can carry the club emotionally and on the pitch, says RASC chairman Dominik Van Landeghem.
Why this takeover isn’t just another change
The supporters' federation stresses they aren’t naive. Antwerp tops the Jupiler Pro League but has yet to score or concede a goal this season, adding pressure on the new leadership. Van Landeghem points to Vandenhaute’s past failure at RSC Anderlecht as a red flag. "I remain lightly critical," he says. "You don’t buy a club like a blank check. Our trust must be earned."
Fans also fear foreign takeovers, like at STVV or Beerschot, where overseas investors took control. Vandenhaute gets a chance, but must first prove he’s learned from his Anderlecht missteps. The question is whether he can build the emotional tie to Antwerp he lacked at Anderlecht.
What supporters want to see next
The chairman outlines three demands. First, the new leadership must communicate openly about sporting plans. Second, the club must stay in Belgian hands, free from foreign influence that could erode its identity. Third, Vandenhaute must show he sees the club not just as an investment, but as a labor of love.
Van Landeghem ends with a warning: "We’re glad the club stays Belgian, but that’s not enough. We want results, and fast. Fans will be patient, but not forever."
Antwerp’s next home game is on February 13, 2027 against Kortrijk, when the club was 15th in the standings. Fans hope the new leadership will provide clarity on the club’s future by then.
