🦕 Justus ☠️ Tóth 🏁 RömethSep 28, 2023
The derby has not been played on the first level for 50 years. In the past, with both clubs in various stages of decline, it was based on mutual respect, making good-spirited fun of each other, drinking lots of beer, enjoying the game for the expression of community that it is. A derby that fits well to the ‚ein besserer Fußball ist möglich’ ethos that drew me to Union. The fact that it is happening today should be a cause for celebration and euphoria.
Show thread🦕 Justus ☠️ Tóth 🏁 RömethSep 28, 2023

It‘s so much a part of Brussels that we dedicated a part of our Bxl corner in our living room to it.

Alas,powers that aren‘t interested in the game,that have a very toxic or exclusive idea on how to express community & that certainly do not have access to the spirit of Zwanze are making my attendance to the game neither desirable nor really possible. They are also spoiling the fun around it. It‘s a sad day for football, no matter the result of the match. Football fans in Bxl have already lost.

Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Sep 28, 2023
@Squig that seems like a sad outcome. One thing that the commercialisation and internationalisation of English football has had an impact on is the spirit of derbies. I feel that keenly between Everton and Liverpool - in the city the rivalry was always sort of friendly, opposing fans exist within families, and couples. Now the vitriol, largely from on-line fans, misunderstanding banter for genuine hatred, is unbearable.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Sep 28, 2023
@Squig of course I can't say that without making a remark about hooliganism in the UK. That was an awful time too, but a different thing. I've never understood it, but it had very little to do with the game itself, and everything to do with small-minded bigotry and some kind of "fight club" ethos of masculinity. The "crews" in Liverpool saw Manchester as a common enemy, and apparently even worked together. This is not a reflection of football at all. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Road_Cutters
County Road Cutters - Wikipedia

Show thread🦕 Justus ☠️ Tóth 🏁 RömethSep 28, 2023
@tealeg There's much more to this derby that's problematic than Hooligans (they are more the cherry on the top), it's the league authorities scheduling it at 18:30 on a Thursday, and the police mandating that you go there by bus (so we'd have to meet at our stadium at 3 the latest), even though both clubs and the fans implored the league authorities to move it at least an hour back.Even the TV broadcaster okayed it.
Show thread🦕 Justus ☠️ Tóth 🏁 RömethSep 28, 2023

@tealeg And now we have some wannabe hooligans (our club does not have any) can just threaten an attack, and we are forbidden to meet around our stadium. The square where some of our bars are (but where a lot of non-football fans usually go as well, us being a minority) was not closed down, so their hools decided to attack there (after our ultras did not respond to them asking them to 'meet‘.

Basically no police presence, just bad management all around.

Show thread🦕 Justus ☠️ Tóth 🏁 Römeth
@tealeg (Local authorities are also blocking us going ahead with building a new stadium, so we have to play in Anderlecht, where their fans attack us more or less unprovoked (stickers were involved, but that's a bad reason to kick someone's teeth out or pee on someone if you ask me) and the police does again nothing.
Sep 28, 2023 at 11:01amWeb