Go Ahead Eagles forward Victor Edvardsen has apologised after mocking the appearance of Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller during the Dutch side’s 4-0 Europa League defeat on Thursday.
Edvardsen, who was introduced as a 71st-minute substitute, received a yellow card three minutes into his cameo when, in the face of Stiller, he gestured at his own nose. The incident sparked a clash between the two teams, resulting in the booking of Edvardsen. The Swede has since been highly criticised on social media for his actions.
A statement issued by Go Ahead Eagles on Friday said Edvardsen has been fined €500, “which will be donated to the club’s social services,” while the 29-year-old publicly apologised.
“I would like to apologise for my behaviour yesterday,” Edvardsen said in the club’s media release. “Things were said and done between us that don’t belong on a football pitch. Afterward, I went to the Stuttgart locker room to apologize. I’m a role model and I have to act accordingly.”
The club’s general manager, Jan Willem van Dop, said: “As a club, we are completely dissatisfied with Victor’s behavior and distance ourselves from it. It’s good that he apologized afterward, but it remains a stain on the evening.”
Stiller, 24, has been capped five times by Germany (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
A first-half Jamie Leweling brace put Stuttgart in control in Deventer, before second-half goals by Bilal El Khannouss and Badredine Bouanani sealed a comfortable win for the Bundesliga side, who are 12th in the league phase standings. Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, are 27th of 36 teams with six points from their opening five matches.
The Eredivisie club, meanwhile, also condemned the behaviour of Stuttgart supporters “before, during and after” the match. The statement said police were forced to intervene due to the supporters standing, despite requests not to do so.
“The behaviour of the German supporters is unacceptable and has no place in a public stand,” Go Ahead Eagles said. “As a result, security personnel were also forced to intervene in the home stands.”
The statement added: “After the match, the police were again forced to intervene.”
Stuttgart, meanwhile, have filed a complaint to Europa League organisers UEFA over the treatment of their fans by Dutch police. Stuttgart did not immediately respond to The Athletic’s request for comment.
Additional reporting: Seb Stafford-Bloor