Arson and daubing at the gym of chairman Roze Comrades

Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 6:01 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 18:27

A fire was set in the night from Saturday to Sunday at a gym in Rotterdam, which is run by the chairman of the Feyenoord supporters’ association Roze Kameraden. The outside of the building on Brielselaan has also been defaced with anti-LGBTI slogans, the police reported in a press release. Police have launched an investigation into the vandalism.

RTV Rijnmond reports that it concerns the gym of Van Dorst, the chairman of an LGBTI supporters’ association of Feyenoord who has been in the news for the past two weeks. He writes on his own Twitter account that he is “extremely shocked and upset” by the events. “Arson, intimidation and threats against me and the other directors of the Pink Comrades. Fortunately, the police and the municipality act quickly and adequately.”

“This just shows that there is still a long way to go,” added the gym owner and Feyenoord supporter in the tweet. Photos circulating on social media show what texts the gym has been daubed with. Like co-founders Thijs van der Heijden and Sebas Maasland, Van Dorst is wanted to death and called ‘kk gay’ and ‘kkr fagot’. In conversation with RTV Rijnmond says Van Dorst that the vandalism shows all the more the need for the establishment of Roze Comrades.

“It is also annoying that our members are now confronted with this,” adds Van Dorst. He will file a report on Monday. Police received multiple reports of the fire around 12:30 a.m. Several callers heard a bang that preceded it. “Something would have been thrown against a roller shutter, causing the fire. When the emergency services arrived on the scene, it was quickly established that there was indeed intent,” said the police, who are calling on witnesses to report if they were in between. 12:15 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. have seen or heard anything suspicious.

This month it was announced that Feyenoord will be the second Dutch professional club, after ADO Den Haag, to have a supporters’ association for LGBTI people. At the launch, Van Dorst said in an interview with the Gay newspaper that the association sticks out its neck for supporters who do not feel comfortable in De Kuip. “We want to show that we are there. And that people realize what chants and swearing mean to other fans. For that boy or girl of fourteen who is in the closet, is ashamed and cannot be herself.”

The supporters’ association is not officially affiliated with Feyenoord. “The question is whether Feyenoord will take us seriously enough,” said Van Dorst, who already took into account negative reactions from the outside world when it was founded. “I’m sure there will be enough bullshit. I think Feyenoord is afraid of negative reactions among the fans. And not from the majority, but from that small group with the biggest mouth that will respond to this.” However, the incidents of Saturday night also surprised Van Dorst.

“I had taken graffiti into account, but that it would become such texts, combined with arson and attempted burglary? I did not expect that,” he says. General Newspaper. “I hope that the perpetrators are never allowed to set foot in a stadium again and moan for a long time. I also hope that they are obliged to visit victims of anti-LGBTI violence.” Van Dorst emphasizes that there have been ‘much more positive than negative reactions’ to the establishment of Roze Comrades and does not intend to stop. “We are stronger.”

COC Nederland, an interest group for LGBTI people, calls the graffiti on the gym ‘very confrontational’. Spokesperson Jan-Willem de Bruin speaks of a ‘terrible’ and ‘completely unacceptable’ attack on Van Dorst’s private company. The COC wants Feyenoord to take a strong stand against LGBTI violence. “The club must show that it stands squarely behind the Pink Comrades. LGBTI people must also be able to enjoy football hand in hand with each other and the rest of the supporters. We also expect Feyenoord to contact Paul van Dorst as soon as possible. “

Politicians also react to the arson and graffiti. Acting D66 party chairman Rob Jetten wishes Van Dorst strength. “Tonight miscreants defaced his gym with disgusting texts and set fire. Unacceptable. There is still a long way to go,” writes Jetten on Twitter. The Rotterdam VVD party leader Vincent Karremans stands ‘one hundred percent’ behind Roze Comrades and says that LGBTI acceptance in football still has a long way to go. Rotterdam deputy mayor Bert Wijbenga, who met the founder this week at the launch, thinks the incident is ‘terrible’. “This does not suit Feyenoord and not Rotterdam. You must be able to be yourself here, which is why I thought the establishment of this club was so beautiful. That this is happening is unacceptable. That such a person sees ‘faggots, cancer gay’ at his gym I have been in contact with the police chief and Mark Koevermans and they take it just as highly as I do. This is totally unacceptable.”