Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 6:07 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 18:08

Charleroi supporters stormed the field of their club on Saturday before the start of the game against KAS Eupen. The duel between the numbers twelve and thirteen of the Belgian Pro League, on the last day of the regular competition, was to start at 6:30, but the fans of Charleroi have put a stop to that. Not satisfied with the results of their club, they demanded a meeting with general manager Mehdi Bayat.

A group of supporters gathered in front of the stadium at one o’clock in the afternoon, after the Storm Ultras placed a call online to get supporters together. After unfolding a number of banners outside, the group moved into the stadium not much later, where the field was entered and a threatening situation arose. The group gathered around the players tunnel, where an interview with Bayat was demanded. Bayat is the Iranian businessman who has been in charge of the current number twelve of the Pro League since 2010.

?? A l’heure actuelle, le terrain de Charleroi est toujours occupé, la rencontre aura-t-elle lieu? ?? @frangaritte #CHAEUP pic.twitter.com/mXiqv5WZo1

– Ma Pro League (@MaProLeague) April 17, 2021

On Wednesday, the board of the club already invited some representatives of all official supporters clubs to calm things down. “That meeting was candid, lively and constructive,” the club said afterwards. “The supporters were able to express their dissatisfaction with a season that can be unanimously described as the greatest sporting failure since returning to the highest level.” However, the conversation could not stop the plans of some hotheads. Despite a call from the club not to come to the stadium, several hundred fans went to the Stade du Pays for the duel with Eupen to complain.

Charleroi started the season very well and managed to turn the first six games into a win, but for a long time the team of trainer Karim Belhocine could not enjoy the appearance of a title contender. Even before the new year arrived, a serious slump followed and the team is already waiting eight games in a row for a victory. In this way, Charleroi even took control of the places that entitle the player to play play-offs for the Conference League at the end of the ride. Last season, Charleroi finished in third place, before the competition was stopped after 29 games due to the corona virus.