Anti-Walloon songs: here is the penalty imposed on Antwerp

Division 1A

The appeal chamber of the Litigation Committee of the Belgian Football Union (URBSFA) imposed a fine of 1,000 euros on Antwerp on Tuesday because of the anti-Walloon discriminatory songs sung by its supporters during the away from Antwerp to Charleroi on the occasion of the 3rd day of Pro League.

Doubts remained around the content of the songs heard in the 36th minute of the match between the two teams. The match delegate Kris Bellon had heard "The Walloons is poo" and asked the referee of the meeting Nathan Verboomen to interrupt the game momentarily.

But the images proposed by Antwerp club lawyer Thomas Machtelinckx at the hearing contradicted this version. The federal prosecutor Gilles Blondeau also confirmed that it was shouted "The Walloons do not work". For him, however, the specific content of the songs is not the focus of the debate. It is especially important to note the discriminatory character of these songs directed towards a group of population.

For the Appeals Chamber of the Litigation Commission, "an offensive snapshot is maintained in this case and also has a political connotation." The ruling states, however, that "the songs did not last long, were not intimidating and no other incident was recorded.

The work of match delegate Kris Bellon has also been singled out for another reason. Charleroi's insults against Dieumerci Mbokani ("your mother is a whore") have not been raised, which the Disputes Committee deplores. This did not fail to raise doubts on the part of Antwerp as to the impartiality of Bellon.

In addition, the Litigation Commission also sanctioned the other Antwerp club, Beerschot. The 'Ratten' were fined 2,500 euros because their supporters threw beer goblets on Virton goalkeeper Anthony Moris in the match between the two teams.