Stef Wijnants: “STVV is dead, the Japanese orchestra is sinking the ship” | Jupiler Pro League

First let me get some facts straight. After the match, German assistant coach Dennis Schmitt comes out of the dug-out to tell the fans behind the goal where the atmosphere group is located.

Schmitt thought that the fans had made themselves heard negatively with flute concerts. Especially against defender Junior Pius who, just to be clear, didn’t play the best match.

Then Pius does not leave himself indifferent either. He raises his middle finger and also spits at fans.

Making such a gesture to the fans is of course exceptional. You don’t argue with your fans. That’s an unwritten rule. The fans pay and can be heard. When things are going well, but of course also when things are not going well.

Some STVV players and the technical staff, including trainer Hollerbach afterwards at the press conference, say that they had never heard that, namely that their own player is being whistled. Hollerbach had never experienced it even in his 32-year career.

I have to advise the Truiense trainer to go and watch Standard, for example, if it doesn’t go well there. There you hear something other than flute concerts.

Also the fact that they say that Pius has been whistled the entire match is not correct. I barely heard that before.

Pius is a hired player from Antwerp and I can tell you that if he had tried that with the Antwerp supporters, he probably would not have left the stadium unscathed. But happy is Sint-Truiden Antwerp is not and it cooled itself on Friday.

A press release from the CEO of STVV Tateishi appeared on Saturday. In it he apologizes reluctantly but not convincingly. He doesn’t approve of the assistant’s and Pius’s reaction, but he understands their motive.

I fell off my chair. A staffer and a player who rant at fans for no great reason (yes, there have been whistles, but no hurtful chants or other aggressive actions) and the CEO not taking responsibility by making sure the people involved come to excuse themselves? Fair punishment.

And then the pit opened completely from the various supporters’ associations, of course. They have also responded.

Bottom line is they expect the individuals involved to face sanctions. But for now, the top is not budging.

Now you should know that not so long ago an STVV supporter received an official report from the football cell (of the Interior) because he raised his middle finger to a match against Club Brugge in the match against Club Brugge.

supporter of Club Brugge.

And now the CEO is coming out with such a statement and not taking any sanctions against them? I can only conclude that the Japanese really do not know what is behind that discontent.

The Truiense supporter has felt misunderstood for years. The Japanese bosses turn a blind eye to their wishes and grievances, they rule from an ivory tower.

And so the fans have had enough. They are no longer coming, even after the supporters were not allowed to come for a month due to the corona measures. The total lack of connection to the community means there were fewer than 2,000 spectators on Friday.

And those who were there feel that the policy doesn’t give a shit about them. That’s why fans are whistling or dissatisfied.

They see that players like a Teixeira who has survived many relegation wars and still did well in Antwerp without being referred to the bank.

They see that suddenly a young goalkeeper with no experience is taken from Italy, while in the core there are trained goalkeepers. They notice that transfers usually come to nothing.

After the protests, they have now hastily decided that Schmitt and Pius will meet the fans at a meeting on Wednesday. And then they think the stocking is over.

But again, that’s not the point. The fans will then make that clear.

Well-intentioned, but I fear that the Japanese will then again act as if they do not speak English.

“STVV is comatose,” said the chairman of the supporters’ association. I’d say the club is dead. The reason for an empty Stayen has nothing to do with corona, but with the policy.