Staff ReporterStadium stand collapses as bouncing Vitesse fans plummet in front of jubilant squad
A stand collapsed following the conclusion of a Dutch football match on Sunday as Vitesse fans bounced up and down in front of their jubilant team after defeating NEC.
The stand was holding thousands of supporters but, miraculously, there were no injuries reported following the terrifying incident.
A video posted on Twitter by Football For All showed the stand collapsing as the Vitesse players celebrated on the pitch in front of the visiting supporters.
Vitesse were in action for the first time since the international break and are set to host Tottenham in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
The Dutch club have been drawn alongside Spurs in Group G of the competition and have opened their campaign with one win and one loss.
The away players looked visibly shocked following Sunday’s incident as one player put his hands to his head, fearing the worst.
But the players continued with their jubilant celebrations just seconds afterwards after the fans appeared to have had a lucky escape.
Nikolai Baden Frederiksen had struck the only goal of the game as Vitesse moved up to sixth in the Eredivisie table.
The incident, which occurred at the Goffertstadion, will raise huge concerns over the safety of supporters in stadiums across Europe.
The Goffertstadion was originally opened in July 1939 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.
In October 1983, NEC played against Barcelona in a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup match at the venue – an encounter which is still regarded as the most important match ever played in the stadium.