Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has admitted his side will be at a disadvantage when they host Celtic on November 27, after UEFA ordered a partial stadium closure for the Europa League clash.
The Dutch club must shut down around a quarter of De Kuip — including the section usually occupied by their ultras — following sanctions imposed by UEFA. The punishment comes after Feyenoord supporters set off fireworks during their recent match against Panathinaikos, triggering a suspended sentence from a previous offence against Bayern Munich earlier this year.
In addition to the closure, Feyenoord have also been fined £76,000. Van Persie, the former Manchester United and Arsenal star, conceded that losing their most vocal fans will be a huge blow.
He said: “Feyenoord is known for its incredible atmosphere, largely thanks to our supporters. Having to play without a big part of that support is obviously disappointing.”
The Rotterdam club has appealed the decision and urged fans to behave during their upcoming trip to Germany to face Stuttgart. Feyenoord stated: “We are currently exploring the possibility of appealing UEFA’s sanctions from the Panathinaikos game. It’s crucial that we avoid any further incidents that could weaken our appeal.”
Van Persie added: “Now we must play key European matches against Celtic and Sturm Graz without our loudest fans, which is far from ideal. Hopefully, we can all work together better moving forward and find the right balance.”
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