Selfie with Reijnders: five-year stadium ban for 13-year-old pitch invader
A 13-year-old ran onto the pitch during the 1-1 between the Netherlands and Germany. Dutch FA KNVB imposed a nationwide stadium ban and a €100 fine.
Symbolic image · Photo: Alf van Beem / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped and resized)
The Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany (1-1) on 24 September at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff Arena has consequences for a young spectator. A 13-year-old ran onto the pitch during the game and took a selfie with Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. According to “Hart van Nederland” and dpa, the Dutch FA (KNVB) handed him a nationwide five-year stadium ban and a €100 fine – the association’s standard amount for minors.
A KNVB spokesperson said spectators are strictly forbidden from entering the pitch. Top-level sport takes place on the field and players must be able to play safely and unhindered; this is signposted at several points in the stadium. Should UEFA sanction the association over the incident, the KNVB intends to recover the costs from the boy’s legal guardians.
For Germany, the 1-1 in Amsterdam was the first game under head coach Jürgen Klopp. The return match against the Netherlands takes place on 16 November at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, three days after Germany play Serbia in Belgrade.